Normal operating temps?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,555
Likes: 4
From: Fear causes hesitaiton...and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true. Houston TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Normal operating temps?
Posted on the registry with little response.
Pulled the radiator out and pressure washed all the junk out of it. It was filthy and we thought we figured out the car running hot problem. After re-assembly, car ran same as before. Sits about 200 F (Digital gage) if driving normal with no AC. Add AC and it climbs to 220. Hammer on it at all and it jumps to 224. Turn off AC and it drops back down in a few minutes. Both fans working properly.
Three questions:
What is max high temp the car should see before I worry?
Do I need a lower temp t-stat?
Is a collapsing hose causing this or is this normal?
Any suggestions appreciated.
Pulled the radiator out and pressure washed all the junk out of it. It was filthy and we thought we figured out the car running hot problem. After re-assembly, car ran same as before. Sits about 200 F (Digital gage) if driving normal with no AC. Add AC and it climbs to 220. Hammer on it at all and it jumps to 224. Turn off AC and it drops back down in a few minutes. Both fans working properly.
Three questions:
What is max high temp the car should see before I worry?
Do I need a lower temp t-stat?
Is a collapsing hose causing this or is this normal?
Any suggestions appreciated.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
Posted on the registry with little response.
Pulled the radiator out and pressure washed all the junk out of it. It was filthy and we thought we figured out the car running hot problem. After re-assembly, car ran same as before. Sits about 200 F (Digital gage) if driving normal with no AC. Add AC and it climbs to 220. Hammer on it at all and it jumps to 224. Turn off AC and it drops back down in a few minutes. Both fans working properly.
Three questions:
What is max high temp the car should see before I worry?
Do I need a lower temp t-stat?
Is a collapsing hose causing this or is this normal?
Any suggestions appreciated.
Pulled the radiator out and pressure washed all the junk out of it. It was filthy and we thought we figured out the car running hot problem. After re-assembly, car ran same as before. Sits about 200 F (Digital gage) if driving normal with no AC. Add AC and it climbs to 220. Hammer on it at all and it jumps to 224. Turn off AC and it drops back down in a few minutes. Both fans working properly.
Three questions:
What is max high temp the car should see before I worry?
Do I need a lower temp t-stat?
Is a collapsing hose causing this or is this normal?
Any suggestions appreciated.
235-240 (max)
Would not hurt but not necessary your running normal temps
Again You dont have an issue
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,555
Likes: 4
From: Fear causes hesitaiton...and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true. Houston TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Thanks again all. I guess I need lots of positive affirmation with this car as I can't afford to break it. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
At what temp are your fans programmed to come on? Lower temp t-stat wouldn't help because the OEM t-stat opens well below 220F.
If you are rolling at 220F, try downshifting to 5th and see if your temps come down. IMO, cruising at 220+ isn't normal.
If you are rolling at 220F, try downshifting to 5th and see if your temps come down. IMO, cruising at 220+ isn't normal.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
In traffic in Arizona that temp is normal during the summer months. Crusing on the freeway 220 and below is normal in 6th gear. Texas gets pretty hot as well
Race Director
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 16,281
Likes: 104
From: Sun city CA
Like the others said... downshifting will move the water out of the motor a little quicker and reduce temps. I have experimented with this many times when I didn't know how much higher rpm would make.
I would also suggest a lower thermostat... 170 if you can find one. 180s are easy to find for about $15. I also ran the Big Mouth for a number of year and it seemed to work well. I would say 3 to 4 degrees cooler at cruising speeds in real hot weather as compared to stock. I have bent it up a few times ( big dips in california ) to many and haven't put a priority on getting it back on yet. Other than that, upgrade the radiator ( I have a Ron Davis ) when its time and reprogram the fans to come on a little cooler. With a 180 thermostat mine runs at about 194 on a real hot day ( Baker California in August
) with the AC on at freeway speeds.
My list
180 thermo
Ron Davis
Big Mouth
Samco
I would also suggest a lower thermostat... 170 if you can find one. 180s are easy to find for about $15. I also ran the Big Mouth for a number of year and it seemed to work well. I would say 3 to 4 degrees cooler at cruising speeds in real hot weather as compared to stock. I have bent it up a few times ( big dips in california ) to many and haven't put a priority on getting it back on yet. Other than that, upgrade the radiator ( I have a Ron Davis ) when its time and reprogram the fans to come on a little cooler. With a 180 thermostat mine runs at about 194 on a real hot day ( Baker California in August
) with the AC on at freeway speeds.My list
180 thermo
Ron Davis
Big Mouth
Samco
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 9
From: KB7TIF Ville NV
Replacement rads are 100$ fresh stock units. A Woods 165 stat is 120$
Money well spent. Engine loves 180 degree temps.
(When its cool out its actually too cool as it would stay around 160-170 topps)
Money well spent. Engine loves 180 degree temps.
(When its cool out its actually too cool as it would stay around 160-170 topps)
Last edited by illenema; Sep 14, 2010 at 07:39 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 16,281
Likes: 104
From: Sun city CA
Why do you say 160 to 170 is to cool ? Is it because the computer doesn't go into closed loop because the engine temp is to low? Or something else?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Used a Woods 160 stat big mouth air dam flushed the radiator fins, had fans come on a little earlier car never ran hot even topping it out in the desert or sitting in traffic in 100+ temps.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Rockfield, Ky
Running hot
I replaced the t-stat on my 92 Z and it is somewhat cooler than before. It usually was around 210 in cruise and now runs anywhere from 194 to 200. My fans kick on around 227 and brings it back down quick. AC on, it stays around 204. I have seen as high as 234 to 237 but it is because of my stopping in traffic and waiting. OAT was around 95 to 100.
They do run hot but that is normal for the stock engine.
They do run hot but that is normal for the stock engine.
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 649
Likes: 4
From: Houston Texas
