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2021 Maverick X3 Max XMR Turbo RR Overheating

50K views 162 replies 24 participants last post by  Bwedo1001  
#1 ·
I bought the above mentioned machine middle of last year. Ever since I've had it, it seems to overheat easily. It starts off good, but as time goes on, the heat cycles gets faster and faster until eventually the fan stays on and it continues to get hot until i let it sit for a while. Few points to note:

1) Fan is working as designed and cycles at the appropriate temps
2) Radiator gets cleaned after every ride (entire machine gets pressure washed after every ride). This was the first solution i looked up and i took the front end off to be sure I could clean it appropriately. I used a small zip tie and went through most of the fins to ensure there was not caked in mud and then shined a light from behind to verify.
3) Thermostat cycles as intended. I've done countless heat cycles in the driveway idling.
4) It has gone through so many heat cycles, I highly doubt it's an air bubble. The vent from the radiator to the overflow tank has plenty of coolant flowing through it.
5) Driving at a mild 35ish mph does not help cool it off, it continues to heat up or stay hot until I stop and either let it sit idle or turn it off.
6) coolant still looks brand new
7) I have around 35 hours on it now
8) It has done this since the first time i took it out
9) If i run water over the radiator, obviously it cools it off fairly quickly (another way i know the water pump is working
10) I've been reading about how the turbo intercooler fan not working can cause similar symptoms to this since turbo output at 19#s is somewhere around 350F. Problem is, apparently the fan doesn't come on until it's hot with 80% throttle. No clue how I could possibly check this while also sitting in driver seat lol.

I know i can get some fan override switches and a TCP radiator etc..., and i'm not opposed to that, I just don't like to mask symptoms. All those things are coming, I just want to find the problem and fix that before. From my research, this doesn't seem to be an uncommon issue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
if you dump water on the rad and it cools down it sounds like it all working properly. Might want to check the rad a bit better to see if there is a dirt insulation that has built up.. I understand you checked it but its still sounds like this might be the case! This or the water pump is spinning on the shaft at higher RPM's..

You should be able to hear the intercooler fan running as it closer to your head.. Mine hardly ever comes on unless it really hot out and run hard

Do you ride in MUD often? any mudbogging etc?
 
#3 ·
Mud clogs these radiators in places you can’t easily wash and then they overheat all the time. I deal with this idea constantly with my buddy. He’ll go on and on about how well he washed it out (he doesn’t) and then acts all surprised when his is overheating. Splash through a few mud puddles on a hot day and guess what, overheating….

like I mentioned in your other thread. TCP is where it’s at.
 
#5 ·
Thanks, I'm definitely getting one, it's just hard for me to believe that the cooling system is so close to the edge that even the tiniest of blockage would affect it that much. From the youtube videos i have found, the TCP radiator can be blocked about 2/3's and still cool fine.
 
#6 ·
Look very close at the radiators cooling fins. Pressure washer easily bends them over slowing airflow rate. Been there done that. Also the lower 1/4 of the radiator gets clogged with mud and requires the front clip removed to clean well. Also cleaning from the backside works better than from the front . Cleaning from the front push's the mud deeper into the radiator and not all the way thru.
 
#9 ·
Never figured out why my R was running hot - COULDA had something to do with bumping it up to 195hp and loading it up to 3,300 pounds…

High performance C&R radiator brought it down a FEW degrees - like 220 instead of 225…

Motor rebuild didn’t affect it either.

What worked is an external oil cooler - at least it’s working SO far - doesn’t see 200 degrees very often anymore, so…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#17 · (Edited)
Hey boss what did you find out? I have this exact same issue, I have the TCP already installed and i dont do any mudding. The radiator has been clean multiple times and im losing my mind trying to figure this out. We've deleted the thermostat and it made no difference still the same issue, only cools down when i slow down to 25mph or if i stop and let it run.


Got an offroad race in 2 weeks and getting down to the wire here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
 
#21 ·
Water pump failures where the impeller spins on the shaft have been reported in the past. In diagnosing the issue there are 2 things you investigate. Airflow and water flow. If you have already replaced the radiator, coolant, and properly burped the system to purge air, and you are absolutely sure the fins are clear all the way through, you may have a water flow rate issue. Checking the pump impeller would be prudent at this point. Racers have all told me that an external oil cooler is needed for the RR models as the heat exchanger is inadequate and causes the high coolant temps. Installing a block off plate (commercially available) and mounting a thin external cooler in the back window area has been shown to lower those temps by an average of 30 degrees. You can contact Chris Blais at Blais racing for more information. I installed a fan override switch on my car and that helps in the summer months here in the desert, which is another option.
 
#30 ·
Stock car with slip on exhaust, coolant looks clean and nothing in the oil.

I'm just putting head gasket on the list of possibilities. I know its not the radiator, I've cleaned it so many times now, its not the hoses, I know the water pump is spinning at low rpms, I dont have any leaks that I can see. Only options left are water pump is slipping at speed, still air in the system (highly unlikely at this point) and head gasket.
 
#32 ·
To eliminate air as a possibility buy one of these... It's only $150, and you don't have to play airlock games or jack the machine up. Drain the fluid, Vacuum the system (which also verifies no leaks), suck the new coolant in, and you're done.
Airlift Cooling System Leak Checker and Airlock Purge Tool Kit
 
#42 ·
The impeller looks damaged from rubbing. I’m betting it is spinning on the shaft. Remove the shaft and impeller since it’s already junk. Clamp the shaft in a vise and try to turn the impeller. Either way you will need an impeller / shaft and a housing.

Remove the gears and check for broken or worn teeth. Replace as needed. This should solve your issue. When reinstalling, be sure to put the thermostat back.
 
#49 ·
Glad you found it!
 
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