1987 olds Delta 88 poor heat.

[Jaspernuts]

3.8 engine. Has lukewarm heat from floor and defrost and even cooler heat when switched to vents. Stuck thermostat? Blend door? Combination of both?

[leech~~]

I would suggest. Jacking up the radator cap, and putting a new car under it!

[Eric Wettschreck]

What's your temp gauge reading?

[Scott K]

Are the hoses going into the heater core hot?

[Jaspernuts]

Hey, don't make fun of my beater!! She only has 115k and barely any rust. Does not have a gauge, just dummy lights. Got her running now, will report back on the hoses in a few min.

[Jaspernuts]

Ok. Both heater hoses warm. Makes a noise behind the dash when vent setting is selected.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Are the hoses just warm, or are they hot?

Funny noise? I don't remember if these had the vacuum acuators in the duct work or not. They were a big issue.

[BoxMN]

My Dad's buddy, Perry, let me take his brand new Delta 88 to prom back in I think 87 or 88! I was so nervous about doing something wrong with that car, that I never really even did anything wrong that night

Dropped girlfriend off at her place in Oakdale, on way home hit a deer.... arrggghhhhh! Messed up his grill, and I was nervous as Chit as I was going up to meet them on fishing trip the next day.

Perry just said, "Are you both okay?" I said "yes". He said "That's all I need to hear, don't worry about it, let's have a good trip."

What a great guy, we got the car fixed via insurance, and I am glad I was a "good boy" that prom, haha!

Great car! Hope you get it running right and keep er goin'!!!

[Jaspernuts]

I can grab them with my hand and hold onto the hose. Its not so hot that it will burn me if I keep holding them. Almost to that point, but not quite.

[leech~~]

Ok sorry for the crack! It sounds like the thermostat is stuck open.

[JOHNBIGDOG]

that's not hot enough. should be about a 5 second count before you let go.

This vintage of auto probably wouldn't hurt to flush the coolant and throw in a thermostat.

Also you could feel both the upper and the lower radiator hoses as the car warms up. The upper hose should not get "warm" as the car warms up. It should stay cool till the t-stat opens then the hose should get very warm.

If they get warm together you have a stuck open t-stat.

I would assume you checked the coolant level and the radiator is full?

[Jaspernuts]

Coolant level is good. Hose stays cool and get warm over a couple minutes. Im gonna throw a stat in this weekend and see what happens.

[Ufatz]

Well you always have this option: there are neighborhoods in MSP where that boat of yours could be turned into a rental condo!

[Jaspernuts]

Update - Installed thermostat and heater is very hot now! Glad it wasn't a plugged heater core!