How To Keep Your Mustang Cool
The Mustang is a very cool car to be seen in, but not if your radiator is boiling over and steam is escaping from under your hood. Ford did not intend for the classic Mustang to be on the road 30 years after their build dates so most Mustangs are equipped with standard 2-core radiators. With a few simple bolt-on items you can improve your Mustangs cooling system to survive the rigors of every day use.The radiator has a very basic function of reducing the temperature of the engines cooling fluids. As cooling fluids flow through the radiator, your fan pulls cool air from the front of the car through the radiator core reducing the temperature of the fluids. If you were able to increase the amount of water flowing through the radiator, you would be able to cool more fluid at one time and reduce the temperature faster. By simply increasing the numbers of cores the fluids pass through, you increase the amount of water the radiator can cool at one time.
The fan and shroud share a very important job of pulling air through the radiator and isolating the air flow through the core. The standard 4-blade fan found on most 1965-1968 6 cylinders and V8 Mustangs pulls only a minimum amount of air. We recommend upgrading to a steel 6 blade fan and shroud, or consider the high performance upgrade to our Black Magic fan kits. The 1986-1993 Mustangs can also benefit in performance and cooling by removing the clutch fan and replacing it with a 6 blade fan and spacer. Cars without a fan shroud and still using the factory 4-blade fan definitely have problems keeping up with the demands of a hot summer day!!
Don't overlook the danger of old radiator hoses. Old radiator hoses can have tiny air holes that prevent your cooling system to pressurize which will raise temperatures. Also, when the hoses become checked and cracked internally, they become an instant headache and a quick tow ride. We offer upgraded Goodyear High Miler replacement hose kits. They include the upper, lower, by-pass, and heater hose. These kits are a great upgrade for durability and style.
Another common problem with an old cooling system is boiling over. One of the probable causes for this is a worn out radiator cap or a cap with too low of pressure rating. When the cap relieves pressure to soon, it lowers the boiling point of the water causing air bubbles in the system slowing down the heat transfer from the water to the fins. Most of the time, people spend all the money for a high performance 4 row radiator but end up using the same old cap that is probably the main problem in the first place. We offer stock replacement 13lb cap as well as high performance 16lb versions for higher horsepower applications.Mustangs originally were not equipped with an overflow recovery. Just a simple rubber hose that vented the pressure to the road. We now offer a couple solutions. First is a clear plastic over flow recovery bottle that is a very affective and clean way to go. It comes with everything you need and does the job great. We also have a fully
polished stainless steel unit. It is also a recovery style and really adds a custom look under hood. Both options will stop the annoying trail of coolant at the next mid summer car show.
Red Line (the leader in synthetic products) sells a marvelous product called Water Wetter. Water Wetter will increase the waters cooling ability by 50% (heat transfer) and can lower operating temperatures as much as 20 degrees. Only one application of Water Wetter is needed per vehicle. Simply pour the 12oz bottle into your radiator and watch the temperatures drop!Sacramento Mustang carries several "Cooling Tune-Up Kits" that will save money and time when upgrading your cooling systems.
Sacramento Mustang recommends installing a aluminum radiator for maximum cooling protection, plus the addition of a 5 blade fan and matching fan shroud.
Please click here to review all our radiator and cooling products.
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