Engine temp!

[Mwilson]

Ive been riding a year or so with no guages! I installed my new sun pro indiglo guages last week my car never passes 170! and only sees 170 at stoplights!

 

[Gary S]

That's cool in more ways than one
Assuming you have a 160 or 180 degree thermostat, that is way it should be. It is always possible to have a few degrees error in the thermostat or the gauge, or both, so this sounds perfect.

 

[Ztoy]

Sounds good like Gary says. Before my rebuild I was running a 160* t-stat and it never overheated. I was told it should be hotter, so after the rebuild I put in a 195*er and now its like 200*, so guess when I replace the Team G with the new Super V I'm either going back to the 160* or maybe 180* t-stat....

 

[KylePBZ]

Don't feel bad, as cool as it's been lately, mine won't get over 150 at all. I haven't even used the fans at the track let alone on the street. I guess the Griffin 31x19, dual 1.25 row radiator and Proform electric pump do the trick!

 

[camertom]

Quick question. Does your car have a good sealed shroud for the fan? Mine does, I have a partial fill and I run 170 all day long as well. I believe firmly in the value of a good shroud. Too many street cars try to run no shroud, the way they see it set up on a lot of trailered in cars. Thats "okay" for a car that virtually only sees strip duty. For a car that should fully warm up, like a real street car;-) a well sealed, properly fit shroud could possibly account for a really low running temp.

 

[HULKZ28]

Camerton, whats a partial fill? Iv heard this before but not sure what it is or the benefits of it..
Thanks
Hulk

 

[Joekool]

Camerton, whats a partial fill? Iv heard this before but not sure what it is or the benefits of it..
Thanks
Hulk

The block gets filled with a hard filler in the water jacket up to the bottom of the core plug holes. It helps to strenghten the block which keeps the cylinder bores more round.

As for the question at hand, 170*F is ok, I like to see coolant temps a little higher myself (190-195 is what I like). If the engine runs too cool the oil builds contamination faster which can cause increased wear and corrosion.

 

[HULKZ28]

I rember an article I read a while back that said a hotter running engine actually makes more power.. They were talking about nascar motors. I believe they run at a bit over 200..
Hulk

 

[KylePBZ]

Quick question. Does your car have a good sealed shroud for the fan? Mine does, I have a partial fill and I run 170 all day long as well. I believe firmly in the value of a good shroud. Too many street cars try to run no shroud, the way they see it set up on a lot of trailered in cars. Thats "okay" for a car that virtually only sees strip duty. For a car that should fully warm up, like a real street car;-) a well sealed, properly fit shroud could possibly account for a really low running temp.

If you mean me, I've got the Chrysler LHS style electric fans. They seem to be comparable to the LT1/LS1 fans.

 

[camertom]

To continue with Joekool's correct answer re partial fill, the benefits are primarily better ring seat and seal therefore more power! The "cement" is only a little heavier than the water it replaces and all the heat is generated up top where the combustion takes place. The coolant in the bottom of the water jacket isn't really doing much. The cylinder wall is effectively a shorter less flexible length. It seems to work!