ideal for top POWER. The factory wants them to run hot for emissions purposes, and if you run longer trips that would get your oil to 190+ then you wouldnt have to worry about gettin up to 212 F. Constant running at a warm temp will clear out the condensation too, but for short 5-10mi trips, then it is necessary to get her as warm as possible to get that condensation out.

 

You would think that the water would evaporate at 185. but just a slower rate. How they came up with that number :crazy:

 

Ideal temperature for what is the real question...

Power...then cooler the better.

Longevity/mileage/emissions...then hotter.

Both are only to a point, of course.

 

I took an engineering class once that dealt with the subject. The answer actually is very complex. Different motors are designed to run at different temperatures. And alot of it deals with the type of fuel and the ability of the engine to properly burn that fuel efficiently. Engines in the 70s were designed to run at cooler temperatures and their actual burn time was a little longer than it is today. Modern engines have a fast burn time and must run at higher temperatures to achieve that. Alot of the formula has to do with the way that modern fuels are made. If you even look at the modern fuel formulas and check on the advantages of each ingredient, you will see what I mean. I also had talked to some petroleum engineers about the technology that is evolving modern fuel blends and formulas. Hand in hand auto and petroleum engineers are designing their products for efficiency and emmissions quality. For a modern engine built in the 90s to burn very efficiently with some consideration to the emmissions system that includes the catalytic convertors, the water temp should be around 200 degrees farenheit. Any more than that and oil seems to act a little less than optimum. Some years ago, I particpated in a research project that attempted to isolate heat to the head and piston and exhaust areas. That meant that the head and piston had to be coated with a plasma or ceramic composite material. Exhaust heat was contained by wrappping tubes with insulation materail. And a heat exchanger was put in to the exhaust to convert some of that excess heat in to usable energy. Heat elsewhere in the engine would be controlled and disipated by a series of heat exchangers. That way, critical parts and bearings could be better lubricated and protected from heat distortion. Heat has always been a challenge to control. But as technology develops and different metals are invented, we will see some more efficient engines. That and the future usage of heat exchangers may produce smaller engines with three to four times the power. You have already seen changes to designs that include cooled air charges. Some motors are running intercoolers and aftercoolers in order to make motors run more efficiently. The continued research to produce better turbochargers that couple to heat exchangers could be a part of tomorrows engines. Fuel will also be invented to include blends with hydrogen and other more friendly synthetic fuels.

 

OK, all before makes sense. But one question I never see asked is what should the temp be with the air on in traffic? On the highway I seem to run about 185-190 then when I get off, it goes up to about 210. Is this normal? With the air off, the temp stays around 190.

 

its normal