Hey guys, my camaro does not want to reach the 220 C, I changed the thermostat from 180' C to a 195' C one, still it does not want to reach it even when I let it idling for 20 minutes or more, I am not sure but it could be the cause of my poor mileage. The car reaches 150 or 160 C only, if I let it idling for a very long time, it reaches the 220 'Cm but it takes so long!!, give me a clue guys, I will really appreciate it!!! Thanks!!!!

PS: Choke system is not working properly I believe, fuse is ok, I am not sure about cold start switch.....how can I test it?

 

Why would you want your car to run at 220c??? That would be something F

Still even then why would you want to run at 220F???

180-190 is plenty.

Just start the car and drive. If it needs heat to run right even when cold is something else. I start my car and take off.

 

The thing is that I am afraid that running the car at 180 º F is the cause of my poor fuel mileage, the other day I drove it for 66 miles and took a quarter of my fuel off. I am not sure but it is like 3 gallons....

 

nope, temp has nothing to do with your mileage.

pic below is as hot as my car ever gets. I run it colder on purpose.
I get good mileage.

Look elsewhere for your problems. Leaky injectors, stuck open cold start injector, bad O2 sensor...................

 

...............time for a full tune up, worn distrubitor shaft bushing, bad timing, leaky intake valves, hole in the gas tank or line............

 

Yup, you are right, Gumby, I am gonna start with the spark plug wireset, I bought the original ones, my V6 is set in 10* timing, it runs fine, but I would like to explore more and see the changes, what would you recommend me? Recently I changed the fuel pump, I installed an AC Delco and the car changed completely.

 

I forgot, that is the same point where my temp gauge stays all the time, if I let the car idling in parking gear, the temp goes up to 220 º and then is when the fan starts, and in a few seconds the temp goes down to the same point you show me in your pic.

 

run the car in the dark and look for spark leak.

last time my car went nuts and I spent tons of time and money chasing things I just needed a full tune up. plugs,wires cap n rotor.

Both my 2nd n 3rd gen seamed to eat ign part up much quicker.

every other car I have owned ran fine being ignored mostly, wires lasted forever and plugs.

My Buick wagon has had the same set of accell plugs in it for years. Runs great. since 2000 course accell plugs never wear out.

you could have flaky plugs. only a buck each, change em for fun. Skip McDonald's for a day.

 

why would you want to run your car colder?
engines run more efficient when they are run hotter. meaning more power, better gas mileage and so on down the road.

 

First off...

Are you SURE the temp gauge is accurate? 80's GM gauges aren't known for their prolonged accuracy. Get a real temperature gauge or borrow one....


After the car runs for awhile, is the top radiator hose hot to the touch? IF so, you're thermostat is opening up....if not, you probably got a bad "new" thermostat...not uncommon at all....don't but the cheapest one.

3 galllons.... 66 miles.... that's 22mpg right? Or is my math wrong...



What are you complaining about? LOL


Hmm.. I guess all the major car companies, EPA, and all the emissions testings are wrong then huh?

Engines that were designed to run at say 200 degrees F run more "efficiently" at this temp.... I didn't say they make the most power....they tend to get the best combination of wear, mpg, and emissions...


Engines which run at colder temps SOMETIMES make a bit more power...but this almost always results in more emissions, and when a engine makes more power, it consumes more fuel.

Back to the original poster :

Check the ACTUAL temp w/ a good gauge...then check the thermostat....

Then let us know from there.

 

Well of course..........

But my car runs much stronger cooler and I still muster 25-28 MPG easy.

 

if anything I would rather run a hotter motor and then work something out to get cooler air in the engine instead
that I think is where most the gain in performance is from running cool is cooler underhood temps

 

Well, I made this before Gumby, I started the engine and let it idle for a while and in the meantime I was checking the upper hose from the radiator to the thermostat, it is cold at the beginning and then after a while, it starts to get warm and hot few minutes later. I am gonna change the sparkplugs for AC Delco ones, I got the Bosch Plat right now, I am not sure how effiecient they are, any recommendation???? I am gonna check the engine temp with a external temp gauge, lets see what happens......
I did not know that these cars can run better running in low temp, my car is fine running at 180º, the thing was that I was afraid that this could be the cause of my "poor mileage", so it is not that bad, 3 gallons=66 miles, right?
Thanks for all guys!!! I will be in touch with you to let you know every change....

 

Do you have one of those infrared hand-held spot thermometers? Like this one? http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...=36424&R=36424 I want one of those so bad... well, haha, not bad enough to start saving for one, but they're still pretty cool.

If that hose is getting hot, sounds like the 'stat is working okay. But then again, I can't tell by touch if the hose is 150 degrees or 190 degrees- both feel hot.

If you take the 'stat off again, you could drill two holes in the outer ring to prevent air pockets from forming. And according to my temp gauge, it actually drops the coolant temp 1 or 2 degrees; kind of a bonus, I guess.

 

Tom, I heardt that before, so you say if I drill the thermostat, it will get rid of some air around cooling system?....

 

Yep; here's my famous picture to show ya what I mean. This prevents an air pocket from forming under the thermostat- the air pocket would cause the thermostat to stay closed, since the 'stat wouldn't be touching the coolant, it wouldn't know to open. If you drill the holes in the outer edge, the air rises up past the thermostat, which gets rid of any air pocket below the 'stat.

So it's not the cause of your problem, and I'm not saying to pull the stat out if you don't have to, but it's something to do next time you're in there.

 

Thanks for the tip buddy!! I am gonna do it the next time I check the thermostat, I changed it last Sat, I putted a 195º and took out the 180º it has. very good info!!!!

 

180-190 is a good temp to run.

I would run a tad hotter but I really can't. Its either run cool or hot. I perfer cool.

I don't even use a fan. My fan never runs and it stays that low as long as I am moving. Now if I sit still for 3-4 mins, it will hit 200+ but I do not like 200+ temps.

I believe 186 is optional.

 

3 galllons.... 66 miles.... that's 22mpg right? Or is my math wrong


Right by me. Wanna trade? I'm lucky to get 15mpg after what I pulled last week I gotta get new plugs n wires soon.

 

Guys, another question, where is the start cold switch located at?, I would like to see if it is on all the time or the choke system is working properly. Thanks!!!!

 

i dirve for 20 mintues and mine only hits just past 40 whats wrong with mine lol.....we are talking about engine temp right???But mine might be in celsius? (canadian) and i dont know how to convert


and.. i doubt my thermostat has ever been changed....shoud i look into it? and can i drill mine like the above picture....or do i need a new seal?

 

add 32 to what ya got n it gets you close.

0C=32F

http://www.viragotech.com/Conversi.exe

sure you can drill yours out. Id just buy a new one and gasket.

 

40 ºC is like 110 ºF....I think his cars thermostat is stuck closed. Change it, and see what happens.

 

Thanx alot Gumby and watafo.....I guess its off to the parts shop for a new one, and drill it before putting it in