Cloged Cat=Hot engine?
 

Hi guys, I recently installed the racing beat gages in my car, and Ive noticed the temps in the car get a bit high when not on the high-way. I live in Miami by hte way and after about 20-30min of city driving the temps can get as high as 220. 200-210 with the a/c on. My question is I know my cat is starting to go bad, I can smell it. So could a clogged cat cause to much back pressure in turn cause higher engine temps?


Thanks

If the extremely hot exhaust cannot exit the engine as efficiently as it used to what do you expect? The car should be running around 190, you need to get this fixed ASAP

ASAP? This its been running like this for a while now....I have to make sure when city driving to keep the revs under 4k if not temp shoots up. Okay so I guess replace cat w/Mid pipe and get REmedy water pump + Stat?

Okay I just drove about 20min something like 11miles. With the heater full blast temps didnt go past 190. I take it that my cooling fan is not working. Now what?

The car is designed to run around 190, you have been running it above that for extended periods of time. If I lived in Miami and the AC went I could deal with the heat for a day or two, after a week I would go nuts. The cat has a warranty to 80K. If that is not an option at least get a midpipe.

Why do you say that? let it idle for a 10 minutes and listen for the fan. But the fans in the RX-8 seem to have their own mind as to when they come on.

Well when I turn off the heater the temps spike past 200. Then when I put it back on the temps drop fast down to 189. When I pop the hood and turn off the a/c all you hear is the engine. No fan kicking on. And I cant seem to find anything on checking for a bad cooling fan.

If you let the car idle the fans should come on sometime before you hit 210. I noticed you fixed a cracked Coolant tank back around July. Prior to this fix where you leaking a large amount of coolant? It is possible for leaking coolant to cause a problem with the fans.

Yeah, I did loose a crap load of coolant. But I ended up buying a brand new OEM expansion tank. I can assure you that I have no coolant leaks either.