Good Temp. For Engine to run at?

korsburn

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

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May 13, 2005

#1

• May 13, 2005

• #1

My brother has a ranger with a V8 and it seems to be running warmer in this warm weather. All i know is that its fuel injected with an AOD, it seems to be running 190 degrees to 200-210, is that to hot? It might be the original thermestat. Should he just get a replacement or one of those performance 170 or 180 degree ones. I do know it has a BBK pully kit, headers,cam,flows and what not. Thanks for any of your help.

 

S

slow93

New Member

May 3, 2005

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May 13, 2005

#2

• May 13, 2005

• #2

sounds a little too warm for me personally. i would go to a cooler thermostat and see what happens

 

J

jerryD

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Mar 16, 2000

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Gladstone, MO

May 13, 2005

#3

• May 13, 2005

• #3

nothing wrong with those temps. stock thermo is 192*. need to have a REAL guage put on and see what the temps really are. the stock gauges suck. you can change the thermo if you want, but do not go lower than a 180* since it is EFI. but its sounds like the thermo is doing its job, and is still working.

 

korsburn

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Mar 30, 2005

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May 13, 2005

#4

• May 13, 2005

• #4

When should i start to worry though?

 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master

Apr 10, 2002

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May 13, 2005

#5

• May 13, 2005

• #5

180F-200F is just fine - about an optimal compromise between too low and too high.

 

J

jerryD

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Mar 16, 2000

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May 14, 2005

#6

• May 14, 2005

• #6

me personally, i wouldn't let it get over 220*, otherwise pull over and see if it cools down some or just shut it off.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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May 14, 2005

#7

• May 14, 2005

• #7

agreed. in the hot stuff, i dont like to see it crest 210* simply because i like to have a little fudge room in case i hit traffic, etc. I really try to keep it from 185-195*F.

I would note that the 94-95 Stang's low-speed fan does not even come on till 208*F. too hot for most of us, but many oem set-ups come with fans not coming on till 210-230*F!

i kinda worry about oil temps before coolant temps.

 

F

fleury26

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Nov 23, 2004

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May 14, 2005

#8

• May 14, 2005

• #8

I just installed a 160 thermo since I read that this tech would trick the EFI in always sending more fuel??? It was listed in a past isssue of M.F.F????Feed back??

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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Nov 29, 1999

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May 14, 2005

#9

• May 14, 2005

• #9

fleury26 said:

I just installed a 160 thermo since I read that this tech would trick the EFI in always sending more fuel??? It was listed in a past isssue of M.F.F????Feed back??

Click to expand...

Not something I would do, but to each his own. The bottom line is that it depends upon what temps you actually run around at. some folks have run 160's to keep it under 220*F in traffic in the summer. If you do actually run at the stat rating, yeah, you will be running on the rich side because of the ECT input.

Good luck with it.

 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master

Apr 10, 2002

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Charlotte, NC

May 14, 2005

#10

• May 14, 2005

• #10

It won't significantly help performance, and can impact engine life/wear/tear. I'd put at least a 180F in it. And a lower temp t'stat won't solve overheating problems - it'll just delay them for a bit. If the radiator/fan won't reject enough heat to keep the car cool with a 180F t'stat, then it certainly won't reject enough heat to keep it cool with a 160 t'stat. If they're overheating in traffic (assuming components are working as designed) it's because either the radiator's shot or not big enough, or the fan isn't moving enough air across it. T'stat temp won't change that.

In fact, going to a lower t'stat temp makes the radiator even less efficient because the temp. difference between the coolant and the air is reduced.

 

dcarlson

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Apr 8, 2005

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Long Island, NY

May 14, 2005

#11

• May 14, 2005

• #11

160 degree thermostat is a trick from back in the early days of EEC IV. The 86-88 speed density cars didn't have a mass air meter to tell the computer that more air was flowing into the engine when you ported the intake & heads, installed headers, etc. So the cars would run lean at WOT. The 160 degree thermostat would keep the coolant temperature down so the EEC would richen the mixture.

You don't need those bandaids with the Mass Air cars. Stick with the 180 to 195.

 

88_GT_5_oh

Sportin' a turbo 5.0 in Canadistan

Jul 4, 2004

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WPG/MB/CA

May 14, 2005

#12

• May 14, 2005

• #12

i always put in a 180 tstat in all my cars, int he summer we don't get "crazy" hot anyway so right now my sunpro gauge read a hair over 180 all the time. last year i put in a 160 just to see for a couple weeks and i noticed the performance bogged down abit, nothing crazy but i felt it just wasn't running right