Engine temp

wlewis · Sep 16, 2010

My 65 289 HiPo runs well, but engine temp seems a bit high even though gauge indicates lower half to center of arc. After a 15 minute or so drive, using an infared thermometer pointed at thermostat housing bolts, side of water pump and top orf radiator next to cap, temps run around 200 degrees, plus or minus 10. I just replaced the 180 degree thermostat, flushed the radiator and added new coolant along with water wetter. No change in temps. As info, my car has no heater. Are my temps normal or high?

Az Pete · Sep 16, 2010

My '66, 289, alum. rad., 9.3 to 1 comp., elec. fan, all new hoses, coolant, and thermostat, runs 180-190 with or without a/c on, in traffic.

Do you have a 5-6 bladed fan and a shroud?

Be sure to get the infared close as the pickup pattern widens the farther away you are.

wlewis · Sep 16, 2010

I have the stock HiPo 4 blade fan with spacer and aftermarket shroud. I took my temp readings from about 2 feet from the measured surface. Holding the infared gun up to within a few inches of the measured surface actually shows a 3 or 4 degree higher temp.

Az Pete · Sep 17, 2010

Yes, the temp would be higher as you pin point the area checked. I would put a 6 bladed fan on the car. We did that to a friends '64.5 Vert and the car went from 210 in parade type traffic to 185-190. Big difference. Runs 180 in normal traffic.

If the car stays cool at highway speeds and not in town it points towards air flow being bad. Possible clogged radiator. If it never cools down, that could be a thermostat/water flow problem.

One thing I did on one car was to run the infared thermo. across the face of the rad. at the same distance away. Found several different temps. This showed me the rad. was clogged. Fixed that and had better water flow.

I have never used water wetter either.

wlewis · Sep 17, 2010

Thanks for the feedback Pete. Since the radiator drained OK. I assume there's no blockage, but as you suggested, I'll check to see if temps are consistent around different spots on radiator. Since all of my measurements are taken while car is stopped and at idle, I would think running temps are cooler while air is flowing through radiator.

2+2GT · Sep 17, 2010

wlewis said:
My 65 289 HiPo runs well, but engine temp seems a bit high even though gauge indicates lower half to center of arc. After a 15 minute or so drive, using an infared thermometer pointed at thermostat housing bolts, side of water pump and top orf radiator next to cap, temps run around 200 degrees, plus or minus 10. I just replaced the 180 degree thermostat, flushed the radiator and added new coolant along with water wetter. No change in temps. As info, my car has no heater. Are my temps normal or high?

Allowing for normal variation, and considering Ford specified a 190° thermostat, 200° sounds extremely normal.

wlewis · Sep 17, 2010

Thanks 2+2. I wondered what thermostat Ford originally put in 289 HiPo's.

rbohm · Sep 17, 2010

wlewis said:
My 65 289 HiPo runs well, but engine temp seems a bit high even though gauge indicates lower half to center of arc. After a 15 minute or so drive, using an infared thermometer pointed at thermostat housing bolts, side of water pump and top orf radiator next to cap, temps run around 200 degrees, plus or minus 10. I just replaced the 180 degree thermostat, flushed the radiator and added new coolant along with water wetter. No change in temps. As info, my car has no heater. Are my temps normal or high?

wlewis said:
Thanks for the feedback Pete. Since the radiator drained OK. I assume there's no blockage, but as you suggested, I'll check to see if temps are consistent around different spots on radiator. Since all of my measurements are taken while car is stopped and at idle, I would think running temps are cooler while air is flowing through radiator.

running 210 is not bad actually considering that late model engines run closer to 215-220 degrees. you can get the temps down a bit by running a 5-7 blade fan or an electric fan, either as a supplement to the factory fan, or a high flow factory type fan from a late model taurus.

also just because the coolant drains easily does not mean there is no blockage in the radiator. check various parts of the radiator to see if they are all consistent with each other. if you find an area where the temps are considerably lower than others, then you have a blockage in the radiator.

wlewis · Sep 17, 2010

Thanks

PoppyMod · Sep 17, 2010

coolant temps

Hi,
While you're measuring with the IR gun, check along the top, then, check along the bottom to determine the temp differences. Also, check that your timing is within specs. For comparisons, I'm running a, somewhat, modified rig, my timing is 16 deg. I'm running a 6 blade 17" alum flex w/short shroud, and a 4 row copper rad. w/50/50 coolant. On any typical day in the high 80s to low mid 90s, my gauge reads in the middle, my actual temps (mech water temp) are about 195-205'ish.
Good Luck!

Engine temp

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