Water temperature
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington NC
Water temperature
Just getting back into a mid year. So much I do not know and forgot!! What should the water temp run? max.? Reads over 210 degrees but hasn't maxed out. Ran water through it twice then refilled using anti freeze. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,181
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
210 is midway (straight up) on a 66, changed from 180 midway on a 65 because so many drivers complained about reading above mid and GM said that was normal. You don't have a profile and you don't say what year you have, but if you use an IR gun and shoot the thermo housing, it should match your gauge fairly close. You would do this to first verify your gauge. If you're actually reading 210, or less you're in the correct range. Mine reads 180 on a cool day and in traffic or very hot day it creeps up to over 200. Can't say exactly because there are no marks and the gauge really isn't linear anyway. It shouldn't boil over or spew out the tank overflow normally with a good cap and clean radiator. Did you use 50/50 antifreeze and water (not 100% antifreeze) ?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington NC
Water temperature
OOPs. It is a '65 327 300hp. Pretty much original. Good bit of frame on restoration. No blow by from the reservoir. Thanks for getting back on it. I will take suggestions. Not very smart but coachable.
Thanks
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,181
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
I have the same year and hp as yours. Mine has a/c, so there may be a little difference, but normally on a hot day it runs in the 200 to 210 area at highway speeds and the a/c off. If I'm cruising around 45 mph, it drops down below that a little.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,351
Likes: 2,724
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Did you take the temp with IR gun? Do you have an aluminum rad? If so is it orig? Under what conditions did you observe the temp? All these and possibly others will develope a picture for us. 
Dennis
Dennis
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington NC
Water temp.
210 is midway (straight up) on a 66, changed from 180 midway on a 65 because so many drivers complained about reading above mid and GM said that was normal. You don't have a profile and you don't say what year you have, but if you use an IR gun and shoot the thermo housing, it should match your gauge fairly close. You would do this to first verify your gauge. If you're actually reading 210, or less you're in the correct range. Mine reads 180 on a cool day and in traffic or very hot day it creeps up to over 200. Can't say exactly because there are no marks and the gauge really isn't linear anyway. It shouldn't boil over or spew out the tank overflow normally with a good cap and clean radiator. Did you use 50/50 antifreeze and water (not 100% antifreeze) ?
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