Limping up the mountains

[TonyDtorch]

Changing the radiator doesn't make the engine run cooler - it is still supposed to operate at the same minimum temperature (established by the thermostat). But if you remove or change the thermostat temperature range, you can affect engine operating temperature, which will indeed alter the burn efficiency and create more pollutants.

and that is the problem, the smog law probably says something to the affect of.."no alternations can be made to the cooling system operating temperature"

That can be interpreted to a smog tech as an aftermarket radiator on the visual inspection.

You can appeal to a referee station for a ruling but it never really works out. they are really against aftermarket parts.

once your car fails a smog test for any reason it's tagged as a "Gross Polluter" and you may as well sell it to someone in Nevada.

 

[hockeybuff]

One more thought occurred to me this morning, after reviewing all the suggestions.  Most important -- slow down to 50 going up the mountains and turn the heater on full blast.  Take the motorhome out of overdrive and even drop to a lower gear.  If it still begins to overheat, pull off the road (ASAP); run the engine in idle for 10 mins. with the heater on full.  Then, if possible, unhitch the Ford Fiesta and drive it separately thru the mountains -- a thought that never occurred to me at the time.

2008 29' Class C Winnebago Outlook w/ Ford Fiesta in tow.