Phantoms are INSTALLED!!!!!!!!
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 605
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From: hamilton square NJ
Phantoms are INSTALLED!!!!!!!!
:cheers: The gauges are finally in. Now that I have accurate readings about what is actually going on inside the engine I have a couple of questions. 1) is 210 degrees too hot to run? I'm thinking of switching to a 160 degree thermostat. 2) Is almost 50psi while accelerating too much? When I stop at a light it drops to almost 15psi. Is this bad?? I'm not too sure. I have Quaker State motor oil in there. 10W30. Is this brand bad? Would I be better going with something like Moble 1 or Royal Purple? :confused:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
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From: absecon nj
Re: Phantoms are INSTALLED!!!!!!!! (xfactor974)
i try to keep temps around 170 to 190 cooler thermostat in winter is a little less heat in car too but i run 160 all year doesnt bother me...oil pressure isnt bad either..yo might want to switch to something a little heavier like 10w40..i run 20w50 in my motors year round..a heavier oil might give you a higher reading also.
how about some pics of the guages
[Modified by pats406nitrovette, 6:48 PM 9/16/2001]
how about some pics of the guages
[Modified by pats406nitrovette, 6:48 PM 9/16/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 49,198
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From: All in!
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'10
Re: Phantoms are INSTALLED!!!!!!!! (xfactor974)
Mine runs about 45 psi at idle and about 70 while accellerating...
If the guage is working correctly. I sure hope that's not too high...
If the guage is working correctly. I sure hope that's not too high...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,807
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From: Hoosier
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Phantoms are INSTALLED!!!!!!!! (xfactor974)
Your oil pressure is ok.
Try to keep the temps between 185 and 205. You're on the outside edge. Too cool is bad becuase the oil can't do it's job properly and liquid gas can seep past the rings becuase the cylinder walls don't expand enough.
I try to maintain mine at 190-195 to allow for creepup in heavey traffic stop and go type situations. I found that a 195 thermostat with a 1/16 hole drilled in it works for my engine.
best oil is Mobil1
I'm looking forward to the Phantom gauge pics
I may do the same.
Try to keep the temps between 185 and 205. You're on the outside edge. Too cool is bad becuase the oil can't do it's job properly and liquid gas can seep past the rings becuase the cylinder walls don't expand enough.
I try to maintain mine at 190-195 to allow for creepup in heavey traffic stop and go type situations. I found that a 195 thermostat with a 1/16 hole drilled in it works for my engine.
best oil is Mobil1
I'm looking forward to the Phantom gauge pics
I may do the same.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Phantoms are INSTALLED!!!!!!!! (xfactor974)
My Corvette Owner's Manual says "During normal operation, gauge will indicate around the 210 degree mark. Hard driving, heavy traffic with stop and go, or prolonged idling in hot weather will produce a gauge reading around the 230 degree mark. Whenever gauge reaches 250 degrees, stop enegine and determine cause of overheating or reduce speed permiting engine to cool."
So it looks like 210 is normal. My car operates most of the time at less than 180 degrees, when I run the A/C or am driving at 80-90 mph for a long distance in hot weather, my gauge creeps up to 220 degress. As soon as I slow down the temp drops back down.
As long as it doesn't go higher than 230 and stay there I don't think you have anything to worry about.
As for oil pressure, with 10-30 oil and a hot or very warm engine (210-220) it isn't unusual to see my oil pressure down to 15-20 psig at idle. This is the readings I have on both my 94 350 Chevy pickup and on my 69 350 Corvette. At 40-50 mph I have around 40 psig, it gets higher as I speed up in rpms. This is normal, for both my 350's even though one is 25 years old and has a 100,000 more miles on the engine.
So it looks like 210 is normal. My car operates most of the time at less than 180 degrees, when I run the A/C or am driving at 80-90 mph for a long distance in hot weather, my gauge creeps up to 220 degress. As soon as I slow down the temp drops back down.
As long as it doesn't go higher than 230 and stay there I don't think you have anything to worry about.
As for oil pressure, with 10-30 oil and a hot or very warm engine (210-220) it isn't unusual to see my oil pressure down to 15-20 psig at idle. This is the readings I have on both my 94 350 Chevy pickup and on my 69 350 Corvette. At 40-50 mph I have around 40 psig, it gets higher as I speed up in rpms. This is normal, for both my 350's even though one is 25 years old and has a 100,000 more miles on the engine.
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