Cooling system education
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Cooling system education (wireless guy)
The ideal temperature is roughly around 160 degrees. I believe it has something to do with thermodynamics. :) (Obviously!) I guess combustion properties are better at that temp.
-Steve
-Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Cooling system education (Pacin'California)
NOPE, Thermodynamically, by the posts and book I have read on the topic anyway, seems to dictate around 230f is nearly ideal for the engines we build today...
but note that HUGE disclaimer, for the engines we build today....limitations of materials...steel and aluminum....and babbitt for bearings, and oil for lubrication...
now factories are playing around with 'ceramic' engines of which I know not much except to say they operate one whole lot hotter and get better efficiency as a result....laws of thermodynamics....
new assembly lines, new bill of materials....whole change in industry....calles it major commitment....
NOW having said that.....so it seems they run today's engines at 220-230f to get some improvements, but such temps require synthetic oils for better lubrication at those higher temps....but still we are stuck with oil filters that apparently clog after 1500 miles or so....
In the earyier daze 160f was the standard thermostat rating...but rapidly increased to 180f back in the 50-60's as a result of seeing too much water borne condensate acids from combustion in the oil, making it dirty...
so increasing water temp allowed those acids/water to be boiled out of the oil fairly consistantly.....
then Nader and the EPA stepped in, demanding all sorts of changes, so the standard thermostat was changed to 195f..... pretty much where it is today....
gets lower emissions readings....thermodynamics again....more complete combustion....
but thing is, we spend a ton of bux on expensive oils to hold the engines together under those conditions....that's why synthetic oils were developed....
I sort of compromise at 180f stats and have done with it, run dino oils and change regularly....
GENE
but note that HUGE disclaimer, for the engines we build today....limitations of materials...steel and aluminum....and babbitt for bearings, and oil for lubrication...
now factories are playing around with 'ceramic' engines of which I know not much except to say they operate one whole lot hotter and get better efficiency as a result....laws of thermodynamics....
new assembly lines, new bill of materials....whole change in industry....calles it major commitment....
NOW having said that.....so it seems they run today's engines at 220-230f to get some improvements, but such temps require synthetic oils for better lubrication at those higher temps....but still we are stuck with oil filters that apparently clog after 1500 miles or so....
In the earyier daze 160f was the standard thermostat rating...but rapidly increased to 180f back in the 50-60's as a result of seeing too much water borne condensate acids from combustion in the oil, making it dirty...
so increasing water temp allowed those acids/water to be boiled out of the oil fairly consistantly.....
then Nader and the EPA stepped in, demanding all sorts of changes, so the standard thermostat was changed to 195f..... pretty much where it is today....
gets lower emissions readings....thermodynamics again....more complete combustion....
but thing is, we spend a ton of bux on expensive oils to hold the engines together under those conditions....that's why synthetic oils were developed....
I sort of compromise at 180f stats and have done with it, run dino oils and change regularly....
GENE
