Temp too high?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 365
Likes: 77
From: Gold Canyon, Arizona
Temp too high?
Today in 106 degree temperature, my '74 small block (which has a big-block DeWitt aluminum radiator and two fans) was running at 220 when my IR gun was pointed at the thermostat with the a/c on. Shouldn't it be lower with this radiator? Should I add one of those temp reducers such as "Water Wetter"?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
Today in 106 degree temperature, my '74 small block (which has a big-block DeWitt aluminum radiator and two fans) was running at 220 when my IR gun was pointed at the thermostat with the a/c on. Shouldn't it be lower with this radiator? Should I add one of those temp reducers such as "Water Wetter"?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Two questions:
1. What temp thermostat is in the engine?
2. What temp is the controller set for the fans?
With a larger radiator and two electric fans (hopefully they are installed with shrouds that are properly sealed), your engine SHOULD be able to cool better than running at 220*F in hot conditions. But, if you have a 195* thermostat and fans that turn on at 200*F, you should expect the coolant temp to be around 220F in hot weather.
Of course, you need about a 50/50 mix of water and glycol antifreeze to maximize the temp your engine's coolant can reach before boiling (a bit less than 240*F with that mix). If so, you have about a 20*F margin of safety before your system boils over, as it stands right now.
If you installed a 180*F stat and set the control temp for the fans at 185-190*F, the engine would probably stabilize at 200*F.
1. What temp thermostat is in the engine?
2. What temp is the controller set for the fans?
With a larger radiator and two electric fans (hopefully they are installed with shrouds that are properly sealed), your engine SHOULD be able to cool better than running at 220*F in hot conditions. But, if you have a 195* thermostat and fans that turn on at 200*F, you should expect the coolant temp to be around 220F in hot weather.
Of course, you need about a 50/50 mix of water and glycol antifreeze to maximize the temp your engine's coolant can reach before boiling (a bit less than 240*F with that mix). If so, you have about a 20*F margin of safety before your system boils over, as it stands right now.
If you installed a 180*F stat and set the control temp for the fans at 185-190*F, the engine would probably stabilize at 200*F.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jul 11, 2016 at 08:17 PM.
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