Lately my car has been running warm, 205F. I have a 180f thermostat. Runs alot hotter when ac is on. Not sure what the issue is. Last year only ran about 195f all summer (without ac running). I have not made any changes.
Here are the specs: 302 with stock bore and pistons, stock head that have the ports cleaned up, small cam (less than .500 lift), explorer intake, 65mm throttle body & egr spacer, 24lb injectors, timing set at 10, Walbro 255 fuel pump, fuel pressure set at 38, brass 2 core oem radiator, taurus 2 speed electric fan running high speed, 5 speed, 3.55 gears.
I know there are other cars on here that have about the same combo or more. What do your cars run at?
AC's gonna make the engine work harder, so the temp is going to go up a few degrees. I wouldn't sweat it, dude.
Is it 205* with the AC on and 95* temps outside? If so that sounds about right.
the ac condeser core is in front of the rad, so it warms the air on the way to the rad
with a good cooling system 205* is not an issue
water boils at 212*
and for every LB of presser the rad cap holds (yours should be a 16 lb cap) will allow you 3* over boiling point..
so the math will go like this.....
water boil point + cap pressure= over heat temp
212* + 48* = 260*
rad caps do go weak over time, and it should be checked or replaced appox every other year
Just goes to show, you learn something new every day. Thanks, man
A 50-50 mixture of coolant & water raises the boiling point even higher...
if you want a little more cooling and look factory stock
visteon makes a 2 row radiator. put one in mine just for
extra cooling. now if i would drive it once in a while.
I understand but hitting 230 last summer with ac on is not good. I turn the ac off and temp came back down.
205 without ac on and outside temp in the 90s.
Mine is a 16lbs cap but has been on for more than 2 years
I have mine mixed at 50-50.
I have a 2 row radiator that I purchased from Autozone between 8-10 years ago. I think it is time to replaced it. It is beginning to show signs of weepy leaks around a couple tubes.
I have an explorer radiator sitting in there but its too high to close the hose to go for a drive. Sitting in the driveway with ac on running at 1200rpm, temp keeps climbing. I know its not the same as driving down the road, but this makes me think the raditor is not the problem.
I think I'll buy new hoses (since mine are original style and I have never had to replace them), radiator cap, and replace the thermostat. If this doesn't cure it, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and buy a new radiator. I have found a new aluminum 3 row on ebay for $150 before shipping. I believe this is from radiators4less.
you may want to find out if your auto zone rad is still under warrenty, most come with a lifetime.....
your aware its been very hot/humid out here lately, your temps dont seem very odd to me.
have you checked to see if the fins on the condensor/radiator arent getting dirty and clogged up?
Since moving down South, my temps have been a few degrees warmer...it's rediculously humid here and a lot of that has been making it's way up north recently. My iron-headed 351w will run just under 210* in 100* with 115*+ heat indices....and that's in traffic. I have a 180* T-stat, new everything and a 3-row radiator...and my A/C is non-functional. I had an electric fan pulling 3300cfm through the radiator continuously and it would just barely hold 195* @ idle and temps would continue to slowly climb with the slightest of loads on the engine...I had to re-install my clutch driven fan and it's been no problem since.
Replacing the factory clutch fan with an e-fan is a great idea for gaining power and economy, but the factory fan moves a TON of air through the radiator. The same e-fan kept my old 5.0 @ 215* on the hottest of days with a stock radiator and 195* t-stat...but it couldn't keep up with my 351w.
I wouldn't be real concerned with running 205*...over 215* and climbing would be a concern.
Good luck
-Don