1989 chevy 1 ton dually overheating..any ideas why?

carter86 · 03-08-2008, 11:10 AM

I have a 1989 Chevy 1 ton dually with a 454 v8 it has been overheating a lot recently. When it overheats the manifold glows red it is so hot. I have checked the radiator, thermostat, water pump, computer, fan clutch, & auxillary fan, but all are working fine. I think it may either be the exshaust causing it to overheat or a computer programming glitch. Does Anyone know what might be wrong??

leolkfrm · 03-08-2008, 12:47 PM

Is the fan howling when it gets above 220 degrees, it should be! You didn't say which state so if you subject it to salt etc. and its over 4 yrs old the cooling fins in the radiator core may be degrading and what you think is good in fact is not. If the exhaust is black the throttle body might need attention (like a flooding carb). just some thoughts

stumpuller454 · 03-08-2008, 03:52 PM

has it lost power? maybe your cats are plugged up

436'd skylark · 03-08-2008, 04:13 PM

glowing exhaust parts ussually mean one of a few things-

1. plugged cats
2. ignition timing that is way retarded
3. very lean condition?

Whats the motor temp? hot exhaust doesn't neccessarily mean overheating.

Jessie · 03-08-2008, 04:16 PM

On all of the 454's I've owned when you saw a glowing exhaust it meant the engine was leaning out.

liftedAV · 03-08-2008, 08:43 PM

air trapped in the cooling system will make it hot....it sounds like the top of the motor is'nt getting coolant,,also could be a blocked runner or a bad head gasket

steves chevy · 03-08-2008, 08:46 PM

I had a blazer with a 350 that did the same thing. Belive it or not we tried everything to fix it, guess what it was bad radiator cap-- looked good but as soon as we replaced it. It cooled fine with no more problems.

keithr0005005 · 03-08-2008, 08:58 PM

i would think bad cat...causing the problem but as stated above retarded timing will do it and leaning it out will do it as well. did you pull the air cleaner and check the injectors? (if 89 454s were injected im not sure ive only worked on 350s)

03-08-2008, 11:10 AM	#1
carter86 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1	1989 chevy 1 ton dually overheating..any ideas why? I have a 1989 Chevy 1 ton dually with a 454 v8 it has been overheating a lot recently. When it overheats the manifold glows red it is so hot. I have checked the radiator, thermostat, water pump, computer, fan clutch, & auxillary fan, but all are working fine. I think it may either be the exshaust causing it to overheat or a computer programming glitch. Does Anyone know what might be wrong??

03-08-2008, 04:13 PM	#4
436'd skylark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 1,004	glowing exhaust parts ussually mean one of a few things- 1. plugged cats 2. ignition timing that is way retarded 3. very lean condition? Whats the motor temp? hot exhaust doesn't neccessarily mean overheating. __________________ Joe 89 K2500 Chevy, Wee-Oh-five 294K miles 1962 Scout 80 parts I guess 1966 Scout 800 resto job 2005 Chevy 2500HD Short cab long box DURAMAX 1996 P30, 6.5 NA Mac Mobile whole lot of buicks

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03-08-2008, 12:47 PM	#2
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,931	Is the fan howling when it gets above 220 degrees, it should be! You didn't say which state so if you subject it to salt etc. and its over 4 yrs old the cooling fins in the radiator core may be degrading and what you think is good in fact is not. If the exhaust is black the throttle body might need attention (like a flooding carb). just some thoughts

03-08-2008, 03:52 PM	#3
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 2,206	has it lost power? maybe your cats are plugged up

03-08-2008, 04:16 PM	#5
Jessie Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 94	On all of the 454's I've owned when you saw a glowing exhaust it meant the engine was leaning out.

03-08-2008, 08:43 PM	#6
liftedAV Full Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 14	air trapped in the cooling system will make it hot....it sounds like the top of the motor is'nt getting coolant,,also could be a blocked runner or a bad head gasket

03-08-2008, 08:46 PM	#7
steves chevy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 9	I had a blazer with a 350 that did the same thing. Belive it or not we tried everything to fix it, guess what it was bad radiator cap-- looked good but as soon as we replaced it. It cooled fine with no more problems.

03-08-2008, 08:58 PM	#8
keithr0005005 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 156	i would think bad cat...causing the problem but as stated above retarded timing will do it and leaning it out will do it as well. did you pull the air cleaner and check the injectors? (if 89 454s were injected im not sure ive only worked on 350s)