Correct running temp
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 18
From: Odessa Florida
Correct running temp
My 86 can get up to 215 during summer driving with the A/C. Is this normal? When it reaches the higher temps, it has a tendency to ping and knock pretty badly.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
A bit less actually.... your fan is not programmed to come on until 228.
As far as the knock...you may need ign wires, a general tune up, and better gas. 89 oct or better. In cooler seasons you can get away with 87 but the hotter it gets the higher the Octane needs to be to prevent knock that can destroy aluminum pistons.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
The temp sounds pretty normal for summer with the a/c. In fact without a/c if I stop often or am going very slow, my fan in my will kick in at 208* with ambients here running at 95+. It cools pretty well if I am at 40 mph or faster.
All in all dont sweat it if it hits 220* or more every now and then. 260* is when your warning light will come on. Shut it down immediately if it does cuz thats when serious damage will start to occur. If your coolant levels are fine and its not puking coolant your probly ok. Check the front of your radiator for debris, C4s are known for sucking up all manner of stuff.
Good luck!
All in all dont sweat it if it hits 220* or more every now and then. 260* is when your warning light will come on. Shut it down immediately if it does cuz thats when serious damage will start to occur. If your coolant levels are fine and its not puking coolant your probly ok. Check the front of your radiator for debris, C4s are known for sucking up all manner of stuff.
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
If it's pinging upgrade your octane. It's not the heat. My 1989 owners manual calls for 91 octane. I can run 89 octane but I don't because the ECM will retard the timing if it senses excessive knock.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 18
From: Odessa Florida
Thanks for the help my friends. I will try a tank of premium fuel to see if it clears up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
The pinging will cause excessive blowby, and cause your rocker covers' PCV valve and breather grommets to leak along with assisting in blowing out your distributor gasket and helping your crank seals to weep.
The temp is normal. my 86 fan comes on at 232 without air, and 225 with air in the summer heat.
The temp is normal. my 86 fan comes on at 232 without air, and 225 with air in the summer heat.
