Engine Temp

[07cob]

Hey All

I am looking for some detail on my idiot light for coolant temperature.

My (absolutely standard) 302 (5.0 HO Mustang engine) has a thermostat that will open at 180F (82C) and a radiator cap rated at 120kPa (both of which are easily changed of course!). To the best of my knowledge, boiling point of water at this pressure will be 105C (forgetting any increase due to coolant etc).

I don't want the light to come on every time I drive the car but I would like it to be somewhat useful. My thoughts on warning lights are that they should give you just enough time to get to the side of the road and stop.

I am thinking of a temp warning light that kicks in at 100C. Does this sound reasonable?

Cheers

GeoF

[bubbagump]

If memory servers 100 C equals 212 F. My problem helping is I don't know how to convert kPa to psi. I do know you should pick up 1 degree of temp for each psi of radiator cap pressure.
However, the original cars had Smith guages. It seems a replica should have some kind of guage.

[Gav]

120kpa is 16.8 PSI or there about.