I replaced my therostat hoping to bring operating temps into the 200s, but to no avail they still lenger at around 130-140. I heard that it is optimal to have your engine running at 220 degrees, is this correct? I have never heard of anyone having an engine run to cold before, its always the opposite.

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yellow 86 Camaro LG4
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2 Infinity Perfect 12s

[This message has been edited by matthew (edited December 20, 2000).]

 

Hmmm, most people have the opposite problem, and they want the car to run cooler. It's true that the car runs best/most efficiently around 220 degrees. But it doesn't take long for the temp to jump from 220 to 250, or worse. So a lot of people prefer that the engine run cooler, for safety sake. My guess is that the previous owner rigged the fan to keep the car cooler. Check to see if the fan is running all the time. It's also possible that your gage is off. You ought to check it with an aftermarket gage of some sort. Those stock gages aren't real accurate. In fact, the 1/4 mark on the gage is really about 180-190 degrees. I'm assuming you put in a 195 thermostat. That means that even with the fan running, the car shouldn't run much cooler than 195 once it gets warmed up.

 

Yea, I did put in the 195 thermo. When I start my car in the morning, I always let it warm up for a couple of minutes, and the temp gets to about 100. Then I start going down the road and it takes forever to get past 100. I usually wouldn't care if my car is running cold, its just that my heater doesn't work that great if the engine isn't warm. What type of temp sensor could I use? Like a regular house thermometer and stick it in the radiator or what?

[This message has been edited by matthew (edited December 20, 2000).]

 

Uhhh, no. Don't try sticking a thermometer in the radiator. Go to an autoparts store and get an aftermarket gage. It'll be like a little hand-held version of what is in your dash. If you want, you can mount it inside the car somewhere. The gage will have a line coming out of it with a sensor on the end of it. You'll want to put the sensor in the engine, preferrably in the head. But this is just if you want to get a more accurate reading of your temperature. If it's cold outside, (and near the Canadian border sounds pretty cold) it will take a few minutes for the engine to warm up. Remember, that coolant is starting at about 0 degrees. Usually my car doesn't warm up for the first five minutes that it's running, and in the winter, I rarely see 220 degrees, unless I'm stuck in traffic.

 

you could always partially block the radiator so the water doesnt get cooled so much. i have never done this before though, and im sure there could be some mishaps with it...does anyone else have anything to say about this?

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350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake 600 cfm carb and exhaust, headers
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I'll second that! Learn from the big off-road industrial trucks. They have radiator shutters operated by hand or thermostat. Radiator shutters are a necessity up north and are common in foreign countries with harsh winters.

Go down to the hardware store and get a sheet of pegboard. Cut it to the full size of your radiator and put in front of it. Those hundreds of pegholes will allow an even flow of air but reduce it enough to help your engine come up and stay in operating temperture this winter. You can always drill bigger holes if the radiator gets too hot.

 

Good idea there. I run some cardboard in mine since I have an aluminum rad and high-flow pump, but having the pegboard with holes certainly would give it more uniform cooling. Thanks...

KAM

 

I have an 86 Trans Am currently with a 160 degree thermostat and and adjustable fan switch that I picked up from the local parts store! The fan switch allows me to choose what temperature the fan kicks on! In the summer I kick it on sooner and in the winter I kick it on at hotter temps! This works great for me! Also the 1/4 mark on the temp guage is NOT 180-190 as previously mentioned....it's actually 160 on the nose! Each notch from 100 to 220 degrees on the guage is 12 degrees! My car runs one notch about 160 which is 172 and that's perfect for my car! 170 is actually the optimal temperature for our cars! If you don't wish to install a fan switch like I have, you can pick up a 170 degree thermostat through Summit Racing! But if all else fails, try the cardboard in front of the radiator....that's what my friend uses on his '89 Formula!

 

Could retard the timing a few degrees also; it may not run as well, but it will run warmer.

Pete

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