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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 04:02 PM
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Default cooling confusion

my 78 w/ 383, reguraully runs 10-20 deg. hotter than id like even on a warm day. (everything is new, spoiler in place ect....) today i drove about a 10 mile round trip, in 4 deg. weather and it never got over 150 deg.!?? what gives? any ideas?
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by bad383
my 78 w/ 383, reguraully runs 10-20 deg. hotter than id like even on a warm day. (everything is new, spoiler in place ect....) today i drove about a 10 mile round trip, in 4 deg. weather and it never got over 150 deg.!?? what gives? any ideas?

The cool air is cooling your system down enough so the thermostat never opens.

How hot does it usually run?
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 06:16 PM
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I'm going to stick my neck out on this one, and guess it has something to do with the colder temperatures out side...
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 07:07 PM
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I got to agree with Z-man. I'm having to cover my rad up here in NW Ohio on my Chevy HD PU to get some heat into the cab. Temps have been below 0*F at night and just above 0*F during the days this week.
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Old Feb 8, 2007 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
The cool air is cooling your system down enough so the thermostat never opens.

How hot does it usually run?
ever since i started using electric fans it will run about 190-200 deg., with a 180 thermostat. on really hot days it will try to overheat. aluminum rad with better fans are in the works
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Old Feb 8, 2007 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Z-man
I'm going to stick my neck out on this one, and guess it has something to do with the colder temperatures out side...
its not like im at the artic circle dude! my thermostat should make the water in the block get to 180
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Old Feb 8, 2007 | 06:11 PM
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all true but eventually the temp is supposed to reach what the stat is set for
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Old Feb 8, 2007 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by redc3
all true but eventually the temp is supposed to reach what the stat is set for

This is true except when very cold air is going through the radiator. Try blocking a little bit of it as you said and see if you can get it above 180 in freezing temps.
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Old Feb 8, 2007 | 07:48 PM
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the heater core is cooling the engine down. Mine does the same thing even in 30-40 temps.
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Old Feb 8, 2007 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by turtlevette
the heater core is cooling the engine down. Mine does the same thing even in 30-40 temps.

Even on low? Or do you run it hard all the time?
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Old Feb 8, 2007 | 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Even on low? Or do you run it hard all the time?

i mostly run the heater on high. It just barely warms the cabin like that.
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Old Feb 9, 2007 | 04:05 PM
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I've noticed the same effect as turtlevette, and fan speed doesn't have much apparent effect. It seems that just including the heater core in the coolant flow circuit reduces engine temps enough to see it on the temp gauge. Maybe just the increase in cooling surface area???
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Old Feb 9, 2007 | 04:11 PM
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the bypass hose lets water flow throught the block.
Water cold enough that the motor doesn't warm.
Only relief is block radiator air flow.
Heater cores are small radiators.
I carry cardboard/floormats and apply as weather demands.
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Old Feb 9, 2007 | 08:36 PM
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Many, many moons ago, people would get ready for winter, put snow tires on, change thermostat to at least 195°, and put fresh antifreeze in.

After having all that done, and you heater didn't put out, then it had to be boiled out, but nowadays they can't use the good stuff to boil them out.
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Old Feb 9, 2007 | 08:56 PM
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During the summer, I can turn the heater on and drop the temp by 10-20 degrees.
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Old Feb 11, 2007 | 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by redc3
its not like im at the artic circle dude! my thermostat should make the water in the block get to 180
Like the others said...it can't heat up if it's too cold outside. The radiator is just too big. You could try covering part of it like truck drivers do...
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Old Feb 11, 2007 | 01:00 AM
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Yup........Cardboard.
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Old Feb 11, 2007 | 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by SEVNT6
Yup........Cardboard.

You could even be clever and DRAW stuff on the cardboard so when the hood is popped people can see how witty you are with what you drew.
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Old Feb 11, 2007 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Z-man
Like the others said...it can't heat up if it's too cold outside. The radiator is just too big. You could try covering part of it like truck drivers do...
yea... i with understanding but, how come my truck heats up in 5 minutes??? theres something odd going on with my cooling system, and i was trying to pick a few brains... im picking up a thermostat housing extention tommorow
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Old Feb 11, 2007 | 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by redc3
yea... i with understanding but, how come my truck heats up in 5 minutes??? theres something odd going on with my cooling system, and i was trying to pick a few brains... im picking up a thermostat housing extention tommorow

I think a car or truck that heats up that fast has cooling issues. Bad circulation or components aren't operating at full efficiency. Drain half the water out of a proper cooling system and it'll heat up twice as fast.
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