OK, Another coolant temp question...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
OK, Another coolant temp question...
I'm finding the coolant temps running 204-208 while cruising and only slightly higher in traffic (during hot TX summers).
During moderate to hard acceleration, I see the temps rise almost as fast as the speedometer! This is the direct opposite of any car I've owned (including 3 vettes...one was a Callaway). All of my previous cars would heat up while in traffic and cool down quickly with the higher RPMs experienced during hard acceleration back to cruise or hiway driving
Can anyone explain this quirk to a dummy???
During moderate to hard acceleration, I see the temps rise almost as fast as the speedometer! This is the direct opposite of any car I've owned (including 3 vettes...one was a Callaway). All of my previous cars would heat up while in traffic and cool down quickly with the higher RPMs experienced during hard acceleration back to cruise or hiway driving
Can anyone explain this quirk to a dummy???
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,102
From: Fulshear, TX
Aggressive driving will heat up coolant temp, not cool it down. Steady high speed cruising is a great way to cool it down though.
More throttle = more heat
Higher RPM = higher coolant flow
Higher speeds = higher airflow
These are three independent variables, and all play a role in engine coolant temps. This is why autocross can sometimes be very taxing on fluid temps, especially those that rely solely on airflow for cooling.
More throttle = more heat
Higher RPM = higher coolant flow
Higher speeds = higher airflow
These are three independent variables, and all play a role in engine coolant temps. This is why autocross can sometimes be very taxing on fluid temps, especially those that rely solely on airflow for cooling.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 960
Likes: 40
Higher RPM's is not a cooler engine.
Higher speed, at an RPM level of cruising, is a cooler engine.
Race cars slow down the water pump and also use a flow restrictor in place of the thermostat.
A lean air/fuel ratio can run an engine hotter.
Extreme or quick movement of the engine temperature is usually low coolant level
.
Higher speed, at an RPM level of cruising, is a cooler engine.
Race cars slow down the water pump and also use a flow restrictor in place of the thermostat.
A lean air/fuel ratio can run an engine hotter.
Extreme or quick movement of the engine temperature is usually low coolant level
.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 1,029
From: Thomas Texas
I'm finding the coolant temps running 204-208 while cruising and only slightly higher in traffic (during hot TX summers).
During moderate to hard acceleration, I see the temps rise almost as fast as the speedometer! This is the direct opposite of any car I've owned (including 3 vettes...one was a Callaway). All of my previous cars would heat up while in traffic and cool down quickly with the higher RPMs experienced during hard acceleration back to cruise or hiway driving Can anyone explain this quirk to a dummy???
During moderate to hard acceleration, I see the temps rise almost as fast as the speedometer! This is the direct opposite of any car I've owned (including 3 vettes...one was a Callaway). All of my previous cars would heat up while in traffic and cool down quickly with the higher RPMs experienced during hard acceleration back to cruise or hiway driving
Can anyone explain this quirk to a dummy???This is normal by today's standards. Now if you are getting up over 250°, I would begin to worry. I would start to get seriously alarmed at 260° coolant / 280° oil.
I know many of you think that is crazy, but today's fluids and engines will take it just fine.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 70
On the road course, in both NA and Supercharged applications we noticed a quick rise in coolant temp, but not very far. It basically would just get right to the fan on temp, as one would assume it should. However, it would never really go above that temp by a degree or two, even lap after lap in supercharged condition.
If the car sits for a long time in a hot parking lot, running with the A/C on, it will climb to that same coolant temp again, and then once driving it will settle back down quickly.
Seems that under no heavy driving, as long as its moving, they are about 10 degrees under the factory fan settings.
Is this the small quick rise you are talking about? (Like 10 degrees)
If the car sits for a long time in a hot parking lot, running with the A/C on, it will climb to that same coolant temp again, and then once driving it will settle back down quickly.
Seems that under no heavy driving, as long as its moving, they are about 10 degrees under the factory fan settings.
Is this the small quick rise you are talking about? (Like 10 degrees)
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Temperature fluctuations are normal with an accurate gauge. A dummy gauge can mask a lot of movement. As long as it stays between 190 and 230 at all times on the street then you are fine. It will get hotter on a road course and you'll have to shut her down but that's a different circumstance.
It's not any fun to hammer the car in the summer anyways.
It's not any fun to hammer the car in the summer anyways.