operating temp
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
TRUSTING the factory gauge is always something that I HOPE is correct. On the cars that I have a concern..I install my racing temp gauge and verify that the temps are good.....and then...if I need to ..I send the gauge and sender out for re-working. to make sure it reads correctly.I would not worry or even raise an eyebrow if it was running at 200 degrees. HECK it can go a bit higher and I would not give it any concern.
DUB
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 183
From: Port St. Lucie Fl
TRUSTING the factory gauge is always something that I HOPE is correct. On the cars that I have a concern..I install my racing temp gauge and verify that the temps are good.....and then...if I need to ..I send the gauge and sender out for re-working. to make sure it reads correctly.I would not worry or even raise an eyebrow if it was running at 200 degrees. HECK it can go a bit higher and I would not give it any concern.
DUB
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Logic would tell us that they are working correctly and reading correctly....which may depend if you have one sensor for the ECM for coolant temp and one for the gauge...OR if you only have one sender that feeds information to two different areas.DUB
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The cooling SYSTEM must be capable of dumping the amount of heat required to drop the operating temps as you would like. When the car was new, that was no problem. But (assuming you still have the original radiator), years of collected carbonates on the internal surfaces of the radiator fins erodes the capacity of that radiator. CLEANING the radiator (rather than just 'flushing' it) can recover some of that capacity. But, all components in that cooling system need to be 'up to snuff' AND need to be compatible with each other, if it is to perform as you expect.
P.S. The front air dam, the fan being used, and the proper hose components are just as important as the radiator on this issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,719
Likes: 1,375
I guess you're asking everybody generically. Mine runs ~175°F. I measure that using the EZ-EFI 2.0 digital monitor. My gauge agrees since I calibrated it with the Willcox gauge adjustment unit (should have done that ages ago instead of just living with it).
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 183
From: Port St. Lucie Fl
Logic would tell us that they are working correctly and reading correctly....which may depend if you have one sensor for the ECM for coolant temp and one for the gauge...OR if you only have one sender that feeds information to two different areas.Not knowing what you are trying to achieve...I do not know how to read into what you wrote. Often times just because a 160 degree thermostats is being used does not mean that it is gong to lower operating temperatures. It just means the thermostat opens up faster...in many scenarios.
DUB
[QUOTE]
The cooling SYSTEM must be capable of dumping the amount of heat required to drop the operating temps as you would like. When the car was new, that was no problem. But (assuming you still have the original radiator), years of collected carbonates on the internal surfaces of the radiator fins erodes the capacity of that radiator. CLEANING the radiator (rather than just 'flushing' it) can recover some of that capacity. But, all components in that cooling system need to be 'up to snuff' AND need to be compatible with each other, if it is to perform as you expect.
P.S. The front air dam, the fan being used, and the proper hose components are just as important as the radiator on this issue.[\QUOTE]
alum radiator and fastburn heads on 406 makes more heat than the anemic engine the 79 came with.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
It takes no more "work" from the engine to keep your car traveling at 70mph today than it did in 1979 when it was new.....regardless of the engine being used. If your present engine is generating a LOT more heat to do that, then something is very wrong with your engine.
Either your car is not running as hot as you think (a temp gauge problem), the cooling system has some problems, or you are not getting adequate cooling air thru the radiator. No 'additional' heat rejection is required, if the engine is doing the same amount of work.
Either your car is not running as hot as you think (a temp gauge problem), the cooling system has some problems, or you are not getting adequate cooling air thru the radiator. No 'additional' heat rejection is required, if the engine is doing the same amount of work.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 183
From: Port St. Lucie Fl
It takes no more "work" from the engine to keep your car traveling at 70mph today than it did in 1979 when it was new.....regardless of the engine being used. If your present engine is generating a LOT more heat to do that, then something is very wrong with your engine.
Either your car is not running as hot as you think (a temp gauge problem), the cooling system has some problems, or you are not getting adequate cooling air thru the radiator. No 'additional' heat rejection is required, if the engine is doing the same amount of work.
Either your car is not running as hot as you think (a temp gauge problem), the cooling system has some problems, or you are not getting adequate cooling air thru the radiator. No 'additional' heat rejection is required, if the engine is doing the same amount of work.
It has a universal alum radiator that has 2 large cores not sure of the size, replacement water pump for 89 camaro (serp setup) volvo fan on cookie sheet shroud. Has facotory Indy car spoiler,90% of the radiator seals, hoses are not collapsing.
Timing is controlled by ecm 15* idle (IIRC) 23* at 2500RPM 33* in by 3k rpm
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
That's all wonderful! So if 'everything' is fine....why are you running hot?
You sound like you already know everything. So why are you asking us how to fix your problem? We have offered suggestions, but you don't seem to be listening....
You sound like you already know everything. So why are you asking us how to fix your problem? We have offered suggestions, but you don't seem to be listening....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 183
From: Port St. Lucie Fl
Its not hot or overheating, just warmer than I prefer, I was thinking my cheap radiator wasnt cooling like it should as others have cooler temps and was trying to confirm. I was curios if others cars run right on the tstat temp while running down the interstate, I didnt think mine would with 160* stat but thought it would be lower than 185.