water temp.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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water temp.
Hello everyone, can anyone tell me what the water temp. should be on a 1974 small block original 350. mine runs at 165* when going about 70 MPH. is this low our OK. thanks for your help. Rich outttt
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Okinawa Okinawa
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Austin Tx
One other thing, how long does it take to get to 165? If it takes a while, it could be that the thermostat has failed open. If that's the case, you want to fix that.
When the engine is cold, it will experience greater cylinder wear. That is the purpose of the thermostat, to get the engine up to operating temperature as quickly as possible, and to keep it there. If the thermostat is failed open (or there is no thermostat), then the engine is going to experience greater wear. I personally believe that 165 is too cool, I run a 180 in the summer, and a 195 in the winter.
When the engine is cold, it will experience greater cylinder wear. That is the purpose of the thermostat, to get the engine up to operating temperature as quickly as possible, and to keep it there. If the thermostat is failed open (or there is no thermostat), then the engine is going to experience greater wear. I personally believe that 165 is too cool, I run a 180 in the summer, and a 195 in the winter.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Laguna Niguel California
It sounds like someone put a 160 thermostat in. It also sounds like you don't have any cooling problems - relax and enjoy it. Mine runs 160 almost all of the time, hoses last longer and it's not as hot inside the car
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
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One other thing, how long does it take to get to 165? If it takes a while, it could be that the thermostat has failed open. If that's the case, you want to fix that.
When the engine is cold, it will experience greater cylinder wear. That is the purpose of the thermostat, to get the engine up to operating temperature as quickly as possible, and to keep it there. If the thermostat is failed open (or there is no thermostat), then the engine is going to experience greater wear. I personally believe that 165 is too cool, I run a 180 in the summer, and a 195 in the winter.
When the engine is cold, it will experience greater cylinder wear. That is the purpose of the thermostat, to get the engine up to operating temperature as quickly as possible, and to keep it there. If the thermostat is failed open (or there is no thermostat), then the engine is going to experience greater wear. I personally believe that 165 is too cool, I run a 180 in the summer, and a 195 in the winter.
Chevrolet did an engine wear test many years ago. They found out that about 90% of engine wear takes place in the first 8 to 10 seconds of operation, before any oil gets from the pan to the bearings. Most of the rest of the wear takes place between that 10 second mark, and when the engine becomes fully warmed up. Once an engine is fully warm, engine wear can drop to undetectable levels. (That's one reason taxis and limos can get so many miles out of their engines (up to one million!) - they are always running.) If you are running the engine too cold all the time, you are always in that wear area. Not good.
So put a brand new 180 or 195 degree 'stat in it.
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