fe running colder on the freeway

[lemans24]

My fe stroker will run normal around town, oil temp and water temp look pretty good, but when I get out on the freeway the water temp will drop to 60 degrees celsius. (140f). Oil temp stays up. Of course it has less power, then when it heats back up everything is great. Is this normal? Maybe something with the t-stat? Any suggestions??? Thanks.

[PANAVIA]

Well -- it could be stuck open -

- would be a good idea to check it out before the weather warms back up.

You can always cover a portion of your radiator with an unfolded "cheese-its" box (unfolded tricuit box is OK as well ) and see if it helps keep things warm(er) .

I had to do that with my 944 when I went to sun valley ID once.....

Steve

[RICK LAKE]

lemans24 Easiest thing is to call Tom at Kirkham and see what thermostat is in the motor. It may be a 160f. Which would put you in the 140f numbers at highway speeds over 50 mph. Your gauge could also not be correct or calibrated either. Mine are about 10-15 degrees off when running. Are your gauges mechanical or electric with sensors?
The other idea is to add a small strip of cardboard to the radiator and drive the car. See how much changes the temp on the highway.
Unless the motor is really driving ugly, leave it alone and enjoy. Rick L.

[mr0077]

That will also happen if your T-stat is in backwards.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

cover a portion of your radiator with an unfolded "cheese-its" box (unfolded tricuit box is OK as well )

Pros use "Chicken in a Biskit" boxes.

[JBCOBRA]

LOL Gunner!

[priobe]

I have the same problem when driving in a open highway with a good gus of wind. I think it has to do with the wind ramming into the radiator and in the engine compartment cooling the entire block.

My temp does not go below 160 ( or the road is not long enough) and as soon as I hit a closed area temp rises.

My T-stat is installed correctly and it is a 180 degree. Thi sonly happens to me during the the cooler seasons.


I think you are fine.

[madmaxx]

How coincidental. I am experiencing the same scenerio on my Roush 427. I upped the thermostat to 195F with little to no effect. I am going to verify my temp gauage tonight. I assume our radiators are to big?? You would think the thermostat would close at 195F, I can beleive the water pump by-pass allows that much coolant around? I thought that was the purpose of a thermostat to maintain a minimuim temp. Around town it is fine but on the freeway to cool. Anything below 165F results in substantial piston to cylinder wall wear.

[bobcowan]

140* is too low. You'll get more wear in the cylinders when the temps are below 160*, compared to a warmer engine. Also, oil temp tends to follow water temp. If your oil is only 140*, it's not warm enough to do it's job.

The first thing to do is check the gauge for accuracy. With the engine cold, remove the radiater cap. Let the engine idle and slowly warm up. Use a probe thermometer to measure the temp and compare to the gauge.

If the gauge is accurate, then the thermostat is probably faulty. Don't jsut replace it. Take it out and test in a pan of water on the stove.

If all that checks out, then you have a cooling system that is excellent, and more than you really need. Not a bad thing - it's much easier to allow the temp to get higher than it is to bring it down.

On a cool day, cover 1/3 or so of the radiater with duct tape. Use black or clear so it doesn't show so much. But that works really well for me. I usually start at the bottom.

[Danr55]

My 428 runs about 195 around town and about 185-190 on the highway. This while running a 165 degree stat.

[madmaxx]

Ok, I pulled the smith sending unit, put in pan of boiling water and watched the reading all the way down to 155F and it is dead on!!!!! This was with a calibrated gauge!!! Kudo's to Smith gauges.

It appears the only solution is to cover part of the radiator, I guess I will look like a semi truck. going for another ride and will post back later. My thermostat is new, and tested before installed Sunday. I am running a 195F up from 180F do they make a 210F for a ford engine?

[madmaxx]

OUCH, I went down the freeway at 60 mph in 5th gear and got the coolant temp down to 155F or 70C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The plexiglass I put over the oil cooler is working like a champ. I guess I will get some more and cover the bottm 1/3 of the radiator and see what happens. Optimuim temp for engine life is 85C to 100C. Thermostat is for all practical purpose usefull, I had no idea the bypass provides that much coolant.

[PANAVIA]

I like Rubber Diaphragm sheet from OSH -- it is like flat inter-tube type material it is obtainable in a 1/8" thick sheet, -- you can use it for lots of things.

I make a rubber slip in oil cooler block for my SPF and it works great. -- cranks the oil temp up to 80-90C on a cold day. -- I need to get my "Wheat-a-Bix" box for the radiator portion though.

[undy]

Just a thought..

Too many and too large drilled "bypass holes" in your thermostat can aggravate this condition.

Dave

[Barry_R]

You are allowed to restrict the bypass. Or plug it an just run the bypass holes in the T-stat as noted by Undy...

[madmaxx]

I am running on two post so excuse my double post. I have found the Mr. Gasket thermostat even when closed passes a substantail amount of flow. I am going back with the el cheapo style. The juror is out on the by pass. It does create imediate circulation in the block so the heads are not cool while the cylinder wall get hot. I am going back with the cheopo type tonight at 195F. I will see the results, then I will take a pair of vice grips and pinch off the recirc and see what I gain. In the end I feel it will be lexun covering the bottom third of the radiator. where do you get the thick rubber from?

[madmaxx]

Solved, Fixed, complete. Going down freeway tonight temp stuck at 180/82C around town stuck 185/85C. Problem was the stupid fuking Mr.Gasekt balanced piece of sheet thermostat. The fuking thing never seals off even when closed!!! Go pick one up and blow through it, it is alway open!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK simple solution Duralast 195F thermostat part number 15359 at Autozone $6.99. It even has a small hole for air bleading. However it has a little brass plug that gets pushed closed when all the air is purged.

I have never seen the car warm up so quick. It was beautiful. Nothing over radiator and bypass hooked up. My testing in hot water on stove showed it opened at 195F and closed at 188F. Thermostats open at the design temp but close about 10F lower, this was consistent will all my testing.

[undy]

Many people,including myself, have had problems with the Robertshaw performance/Mr. Gasket/Milodon thermostats. I went through a half dozen of them before I finally gave up and went with a Stant premium stat.

[lovehamr]

Excellent info Max!