My car is now running to cold. Earlyer this summer I was haveing a very hard time keeping the temp under 210 degrees. I bought a 3 core radiator off Dan Hines, installed a new 180 degree thermostat, and have been running a 6 blade fan from a factory 302/A/C car. That dropped my temp to around 185 on even the hottest days sitting in Atlanta traffic. Now that temperatures outside have dropped, I have to drive for over 20 minutes before the temperature gauge even moves off 100... It eventually wams up to about 140 degrees, and that's it. I think the car should be running at least 160-170. I drive this car 80 miles a day up and down the interstate. What do I need to do to make it run warmer? Warmer thermostat? Colder thermostat? Or is it ok running it at 140~ degrees (sometimes it can't even get that warm). I haven't checked, but I believe it is affecting my gas mileage in a negative way..
195 thermostat will help, but i would have thought you would get into the 160+ neighborhood. i suspect your current thermo is not closing completely, thus allowing some circulation when you dont really want it.
The only reason I can think of why it would take so long to warm up is a either a bad/leaking t-stat or a water pump that's crapping out. Might also explain why it didn't do so well in the summer.
The problem back in the summer was the original radiator was stopped up. I cannot see how a bad water pump could possibly cause it to run to cold. That does not make logical sense. A bad waterpump should make it overheat regardless of the outside temperature. The thermostat has about 4,000 miles on it. I drilled a 1/4 hole in it at my dad's suggestion. Said he has always done it to all of his cars and got the tip from his old engine builder, Lamar Walden. I'll try a warmer thermostat, and go back to the 4 blade fan for the winter. I'll let you guys know.
In theory ... a 180 Thermostat should keep your engine at 180 not matter what the outside temp ... check your thermostat ... sounds like it's stuck ...
Sometimes up here if the thermostat bypass is large enough, cars have a hard time heating up. That is not so much the case with Mavericks, and definitely not the case in Georgia. Ever. I also suspect a stat problem.
I had a 71 F250 that took forever to warm up in the winter. I covered half of the radiator core with a piece of cardboard to speed things up.
Jamie, I run a 180 t-stat in my grabber (302 4b). I never move over 180 and that was in Atlanta traffic (I lived there for a year and a half). I could be wrong but drilling a hole in the T-stat might be part of your problem. An engine must have a certain amount of heat to optimize combustion or at least I would think. Allowing the coolant to pass by unrestricted or slightly restricted might cause your problem. Not sure, but let us know how you make out with it. Thanks Jerryfow2
1/4 sounds on the large side for an air bleed hole; i was taught 1/8" max. still sounds like a t-stat not completely closing. i run a 170 stat and in the cold the motor goes to 165 and stays there until i swap in a 195 stat.
I drilled about a 1/8 hole in my Grabbers thrermostat .. 1/4 is pretty big ... It takes longer for the Grabber to warm up ... but it still runs at a steady 185 no matter what the outside temp.
Sounds to me like your thermostat is sticking open. I've had two do that in my Escort during the past year &-a-half...
a new 180 thermostat should do the trick. I have the same problem as max in the winters here, but cardboard on the radiator should only be necessary in ice country not georgia.
I did that for years in my old Cheby Lub pickup (first car, what can I say, it was given to me for FREE!). As the temp got warmer, I just slid it further off the radiator, as it cooled, I covered more up. Eventually, I ended up with a permanent piece of green gasket material that I put behind the seat when not in use. Wouldn't get soggy in the rain.
