Engine overheating...

[rockdogz]

Help, my motor is stumbling....

Ok, so I've never had any engine problems up to now, and the other night the family and I go on a cruise. We're coming home and all of the sudden I lose power. I'm able to make it to a parking lot and we notice that I have some coolant on the ground - maybe a quart. I'm thinking there was a leak somewhere, but I don't find one. It's dark so I call for a flatbed, but seem to be able to drive it around the parking lot ok.

I thought it may be a bad thermostat, but I tested it and it opens at about 180-185 or so. However, the coolant temp is getting up way over 200 which is unusual. Maybe a water pump issue? Strange on an engine with fewer than 2000 miles.

I have the Diacom RamJet diagnostic software, and ran the engine for a while and gathered some data. It was just idling, but I tried to rev it up a little to get the temp up there. The twin Spals spun up and were working.

Here is the number of minutes the engine has run, and the coolant temperature:

0 107
1 108
2 126
3 145
4 153
5 206
6 212
7 212
8 212
9 216
10 218
11 218
12 221
13 226
14 229
15 234
16 238
17 239 (engine off)
18 231
19 221
20 210


The gauge inside showed even higher temps, approaching 250.

Most importantly, I'm wondering if these high temps would cause the engine stumble and lack of power due to the fuel injection system. If not, any ideas there? Things like a clogged fuel filter don't seem to be an explanation since it will run fine for a couple minutes until it heats up.

I'm also trying to figure out what the cause of the high temps could be... water pump maybe? I'm running the reverse flow Vintage Air Front Runner water pump.

Thanks for any ideas!!