Engine Temp
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
If you want heat replace the tstat with a 195°
From your readings, it sounds like yours isn't working properly anyway.
Back in the early 60s most vehicles came with a 170° tstat and it was recommended and a common practice ritual to change to a 195° tstat before winter at the same time you put on your snow tires.
If you didn't you barely could defrost the windshield.
Big trucks have and still do come with temp controlled grill shutters to control radiator air flow. Some old ones had snap on zippered canvas on the grill.
From your readings, it sounds like yours isn't working properly anyway.
Back in the early 60s most vehicles came with a 170° tstat and it was recommended and a common practice ritual to change to a 195° tstat before winter at the same time you put on your snow tires.
If you didn't you barely could defrost the windshield.
Big trucks have and still do come with temp controlled grill shutters to control radiator air flow. Some old ones had snap on zippered canvas on the grill.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Back in the early 60s most vehicles came with a 170° tstat and it was recommended and a common practice ritual to change to a 195° tstat before winter at the same time you put on your snow tires.
If you didn't you barely could defrost the windshield.
That brings back memories! That is exactly what was done. At -20*F that 195 sure helped out.
But these posters just need 180*F t-stats. Even with plain water (not recommended) that will bring the operating temp up to at least 180.
If you didn't you barely could defrost the windshield.
That brings back memories! That is exactly what was done. At -20*F that 195 sure helped out.
But these posters just need 180*F t-stats. Even with plain water (not recommended) that will bring the operating temp up to at least 180.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 969
Likes: 1
From: NJ
In my case it wasn't the thermostat. I had the car running for a while, used an IR gun on the upper hose and the engine surface around the thermostat. Upper hose showed 170, engine around the stat showed 200, gauge was still at around 130.
Cleaned the sending unit, plugged the wire back in, now the needle wouldnt go much past 100.
With car idling, wire removed, needle drops all the way down, I still have to see what happens when I ground it, hopefully it goes all the way UP which I think will confirm its the sending unit?
