Temp spike during warmup
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Temp spike during warmup
Not sure if this is normal or not but during initial warmup the temp guage climbs up to around 250 for a little while before settling down to around 200 after everything is warmed up and circulated for a while. Could the thermostat be bad or maybe air in the system? I drilled two 1/8" holes in the thermostat when I installed it to try and be sure the air could work its way out. Any suggestions?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
Often the thermostat wll get a little stuck.....and then it doesn't open until temp climbs well above the rated opening, then drops to the operating temp. Thermostat is a great place to start.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Originally Posted by oregonsharkman
Often the thermostat wll get a little stuck.....and then it doesn't open until temp climbs well above the rated opening, then drops to the operating temp. Thermostat is a great place to start.
sounds like your thermostat is sticking.... spend the couple bucks and replace it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
You can always check it by taking it out and putting it in a pan of water on your stove.....use a thermometer and see what temp the thing opens at........It's good to do this even with a new one, I've seen plenty that don't work right out of the box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Have you checked the gauge to see if it's reading correct? Maybe the gauge is reading high and the 250 degree reading you're getting is not really that much. I would do that as well as all the suggestions on checking the thermostat for the same reason everyone else says, it's so cheap to do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Originally Posted by C3 4ME
Have you checked the gauge to see if it's reading correct? Maybe the gauge is reading high and the 250 degree reading you're getting is not really that much. I would do that as well as all the suggestions on checking the thermostat for the same reason everyone else says, it's so cheap to do.
thats a possibility also, but since it comes down to normal operating temp after a few mins... leads me to believe its still the thermostat. Just to be sure, find a friend that has an IR temp gun and check it out.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
Originally Posted by jdmick
Not sure if this is normal or not but during initial warmup the temp guage climbs up to around 250 for a little while before settling down to around 200 after everything is warmed up and circulated for a while. Could the thermostat be bad or maybe air in the system? I drilled two 1/8" holes in the thermostat when I installed it to try and be sure the air could work its way out. Any suggestions?
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Katy, TX, USA
Also, check your thermostat rating while checking the opening temp on the thermostat. You may need to get one of lower value. I have seen this type of problem with my car as well. I'm using a Shaw high performance T-Stat with the holes drilled in it. I'm also running Evans NPG+ coolant and have a better warmup and heat transistion, so I don't see these spikes anymore.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
It is typical for it to go up higher than the thermostat rating and then fall back when the water gets flowing. That cool slug in the radiator is drawn in, although I wouldnt consider 250 typical. Its probably not really 250.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
****UPDATE******
I replaced the old thermostat with a "Super Stant" 180 degree unit. I drilled one 1/8" hole in it to help get the air out. Seems to work a lot better. No big spikes anymore. Pretty sure the old POS was defective. Thanks.
I replaced the old thermostat with a "Super Stant" 180 degree unit. I drilled one 1/8" hole in it to help get the air out. Seems to work a lot better. No big spikes anymore. Pretty sure the old POS was defective.
Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Falls, N.Y. 76 Vette Modified L-48
GOOD! For the price of a new stat and the relatively low effort, that was your best move...had you looked out the window and not at the gauges like one member suggested, you may have lost an engine one day because of that little POS...
