What is the normal operating temp
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
The best thermostat would be the 180 degree and this is same temperature that you engine will run best at. Your temp gauge may be off though so it may be a good idea to use a IR temp gun to take the temp at the thermostat housing or upper radiator hose.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Rolling Hills Estates CA
I use a 160 degree stat. The water temp runs between 160-180 no matter what the outside temp is, and I live in Southern California. Although my car has an L84 motor, I don't believe that would make any difference between my car and your L75.
My thought is, the cooler the motor runs, the better.
My thought is, the cooler the motor runs, the better.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere CA
Thanks guys.
My temp gauge runs at 180 and jumps to 195 in stop and go or at a red light. Not sure if the gauges are reading correctly and just wanted to check. I also believe that the cooler the better, so may be 160 thermostat is in order....
My temp gauge runs at 180 and jumps to 195 in stop and go or at a red light. Not sure if the gauges are reading correctly and just wanted to check. I also believe that the cooler the better, so may be 160 thermostat is in order....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
Cooler is not always better. 180 is good, 200 is okay also. I would not worry about 195 in traffic. I would not worry unless over 220! Some motors run better hot. You want cold air coming in but not necessarily a cold motor. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
From: Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
I agree, cooler is not always better. Mine runs at 180 as stated above and also climbs 10/15 degrees when it's running and not moving. [rarely] Think what you have is running exactly where it is designed to run. Have a great day-----think spring--I'm off to plow more snow-----darn.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
It came from the factory with a 170F tstat. IMO it should run just above that (opening) temp. NAPA still has the tstats.
PS Having said that, I am replacing my 170F tstat with a 160F RobertShaw balanced flow modified by Stewart, since they recommend their balanced flow tstats be installed with their high flow water pumps. If they offered a 170 tstat, I would buy it, but I prefer 160 to 180 in my A-C equipped car.
PS Having said that, I am replacing my 170F tstat with a 160F RobertShaw balanced flow modified by Stewart, since they recommend their balanced flow tstats be installed with their high flow water pumps. If they offered a 170 tstat, I would buy it, but I prefer 160 to 180 in my A-C equipped car.
Last edited by magicv8; Feb 26, 2007 at 10:29 AM. Reason: ps
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
running a lower temp t-stat will do nothing to help your car run cooler at the upper end of the temp it reaches, once that baby is open (at 160, or 180) it's open, and the cooling system (rad, fan operation) maintains the max temp
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Rolling Hills Estates CA
But what's the max temp of the cooling system (rad, fan operation)? If my car is capible of running at 160 on the open road and heats up to around 180 at the stop light using a 160 tstat, the max system temp is lower than 160 while moving, right? Therefore the tstat can't be wide open all the time. And, if by what some of these other owners have posted is correct, a 180 tstat most definately won't be wide open in my car under the same operating conditions.
Last edited by mts7900; Feb 26, 2007 at 01:37 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
But what's the max temp of the cooling system (rad, fan operation)? If my car is capible of running at 160 on the open road and heats up to around 180 at the stop light, the max system temp is lower than 160, right? Therefore the tstat isn't wide open all the time, is it?
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Rolling Hills Estates CA
in your example, and assuming you have a 160 deg t-stat in there, the cooling sytem is capable of limiting the engine temp to 180 deg. (where it seems your car faces it's most extreme temp load, stopped but running). Your 160 deg t-stat is, at that point, fully open, and allowing the full cooling system to be involved in the cooling effort. Should the cooling system succeed in bringing the coolant temp down to below 160, the t-stat will close and take the radiator out of the loop, likely leading to the coolant getting heated up by the engine and the t-stat opening again. If you had a poorly functioning radiator in there, the temp would climb well past 180 deg, and your 160 deg t-stat would do absolutely nothing to stop the boilover.
