does old radiator cause overheating?
 

1987 260E

My temperature gauge would hit 100Celcius and stays there during city driving. Once I am on the highway, it would drop down to 75 to 80Celsius. Oh and once I pop open the hoods after a bout of city driving, I wouldn't dare touch anything in the engine compartment, it's HOT! Can't even hold the transmission dip stick.

I have been pondering about this slight overheating my car is experiencing and I wonder if it's because the radiator is old.

I guess if the core is all plugged up, it would cause the engine not to be cooled adequately right?

Is there anyway one can check to be sure if the radiator is up for replacement?

The 103 engine bay does get hot...Even very hot to touch the dipstick. Normal.

100C during city depends on your ambient. If it is 80F where you live, I'd say you have some cooling issues that will progressively get worse. If you are in 100F+ ambient, I would say that is normal stuck in traffic.

Check your coolant level is OK though.

throne, consider replacing the thermostat if the coolant level is proper.

I had a plugged radiator causing overheating. I could tell because there were "cool" areas on the radiator that you could feel because there was no coolant running through that part if the radiator. If you can get your hands on it while it is running (difficult & dangerous) you can feel the cooler areas. The temp should be homogeneous across all areas. Also when measuring the air temp coming over the fan, there were cool zones. I used a long temp probe and positioned it between the fan and radiator surface. I had to loosen the fan shroud to get it in there.

If it old just replace it.

I live in Ontario, Canada, and it really get too too hot, especially not right now when fall weather is approaching.

If your temp drops to 75c on the highway, its time to change the thermostat.

Yes a radiator can make alot of difference. Also Aux Fans and Viscous fan working correctly. Thermostat will band aid a aging system and usually the cheapest fastest fix but the other things make the biggest difference. Water pump of course can be an issue, but normally only if corrosive coolant has been introduced.