Car running Cold?? Go figure!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 90
From: Kings Park NY
Car running Cold?? Go figure!!
I recently replaced another lazy thermostat and bought a Shaw 180 high performance unit. I tested the new Tstat before I installed with a pot of hot water and a infrared temp gauge. I am now running the original sending unit and an additional mechanical capillary Auto Meter gauge. Both temps are taken from the heads. I’m in Long Island NY and It’s starting to get cold here but my car never gets up to 180 degrees. The Stat I purchased said 180 and I verified that. The best temp I can get is 160 degrees and that’s after a 40 minute drive. Can anybody provide some insite on why I now have the exact polar opposite problem I had earlier this year. What does your car run at in the winter??
Thanks
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,756
Likes: 2,589
Doesnt the 82 have an electric fan, and if so is the fan controlled by a sensor and the ecm and is your fan constantly running? If not electric is the fan clutch frozen?
Last edited by MelWff; Nov 20, 2013 at 01:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
This may be a stupid question but is the temp sensing end (bulb) of the thermostat facing the block?
If it's in backwards the water pressure could force it open prematurely causing what you are experiencing.
If it's in backwards the water pressure could force it open prematurely causing what you are experiencing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
I had the same problem, 180 degree T-Stat. I have tried several and on a warm day it works great, on a hot day the car runs hot 200 or so and on a cold 50 degree fall day it runs cold 160 or so. Just hot enough to keep the car warm!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
I had the same problem, 180 degree T-Stat. I have tried several and on a warm day it works great, on a hot day the car runs hot 200 or so and on a cold 50 degree fall day it runs cold 160 or so. Just hot enough to keep the car warm!
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 475
Likes: 3
From: Windham NH
I'm also running the shaw thermostat. They have a modified thermostat that is drilled out in some way so that it's always circulating even when it's not up to temp. You may want to make sure you don't have the modified one. It has a different part number. I stared with a modified thermostat and changed it out because it actually wasn't running warm enough. That's strange to say coming from a big block car..
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 475
Likes: 3
From: Windham NH
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
The holes in your thermostat are not for venting air. I have the same 180* tstat with three holes drilled but I also run a Stewart Stage II water pump which does not have a bypass capability, hence the three holes to provide circulation preventing pressure buildup and possible pump cavitation. I have removed the condenser and foam seals around my rad. In summer weather, 70*-90* up here, my engine takes a longer time to warm up and runs at 160*-200* dependent upon outside air temp, hwy/city driving. In cooler temps, it runs about 150* which is lower than I would prefer but my ride is not a DD.
Last edited by resdoggie; Nov 21, 2013 at 08:05 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 20
From: Shorewood IL
The holes in your thermostat are not for venting air. I have the same 180* tstat with three holes drilled but I also run a Stewart Stage II water pump which does not have a bypass capability, hence the three holes to provide circulation preventing pressure buildup and possible pump cavitation. my engine takes a longer time to warm up and runs at 160*-200* dependent upon outside air temp, hwy/city driving. In cooler temps, it runs about 150* which is lower than I would prefer.
I also have the same setup and results!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 67
From: Warrington PA
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
I have a similar situation with my 82, I replaced the t-stat (180) about 18 months ago along with a new water pump. My temp very rarely goes above 180 degrees, it has to be really hot and sitting in traffic for that to occur, otherwise it is at 180 or below. Mine is a "dd" and with the colder weather, it does not reach 180 degrees. Heat is still hot when needed, and it runs just fine, so I don't worry about it........Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I'm curious, those of you who have a cool running engine in colder weather , do you have the stock fan set up or electric fans?
I took my "77 out to see what it would do on a cool day (50*) and as long as I was moving slowly or not at all it ran up to the thermostat or even till the fans kicked on.
I also am running the shaw thermostat, but with an electric fan set up and aluminum radiator.
Soon as I got up to highway speeds it would cool down below the thermostat temp of 180* and seemed to sit around 160*. Heater still worked good, just ran cooler.
So it looks like if your running stock fan set up, which is always pulling air through the radiator, it will run cooler unless your restrict the air with a piece of cardboard or something.
I took my "77 out to see what it would do on a cool day (50*) and as long as I was moving slowly or not at all it ran up to the thermostat or even till the fans kicked on.
I also am running the shaw thermostat, but with an electric fan set up and aluminum radiator.
Soon as I got up to highway speeds it would cool down below the thermostat temp of 180* and seemed to sit around 160*. Heater still worked good, just ran cooler.
So it looks like if your running stock fan set up, which is always pulling air through the radiator, it will run cooler unless your restrict the air with a piece of cardboard or something.
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I'm running the stock 7-blade clutch fan for A/C but A/C condenser now removed as I mentioned. I too noticed that the car ran cooler on the highway on hotter days, 170*, than around town, 190*, but never goes over 200*.
