is 195* too hot??

[jaymac]

After installing my new temp gauge, it has sat pretty steadily at 180* while driving, even idling.
Today is is sitting at ~195* (it is directly between the 180 and 210, so I'm assuming 195...).
It's 94* outside today and humid (hottest day since new gauge). Alot of stop and go redlight traffic, w/ a few minutes of OD cruising here and there.
I bought a new rad. cap and some water wetter, and haven't put either in/on yet.
I have a 180* t stat in there, and recently did a fluch and fill and new hoses.
I used 50/50 for the f&f.
So, if I wanted to make it 70/30, how much 50/50 should I drain out and refill w/ water and the bottle of water wetter?

And given thata the stock t-stat opens @ 195*, is it a bad thing that I'm cruising at 195 today?

Long post, huh?
Thanks guys!

 

[DMAN302]

Not bad at all..considering the outside temps...I wouldn't give it a second thought..even 210 nothing to really worry about...220 I would start to keep an eye on things.

 

[jaymac]

cool enough!
Maybe I should go get my $20 back from Autozone

 

[strokedandblown]

yeah i have a 180 and it usually is around 190 no worries

 

[88gt]

I've got a 195deg t-stat in mine also, driving around town today, ~90deg temps.

car ran on the t-stat the whole time... no worries...make sure the system does not have any air pockets in it..


Jim

 

[88_GT_5_oh]

mine reads about 190-5 on hot days in traffic, the odd time it will creep to 200

 

[Greenracing]

185 here 190 tops so isn't a biggie.

 

[04sleeper]

If you still have the factory thermostat then it will be a 192 degrees. So 195 is fine for that thermostat. Most like to run a little cooler and put in a 180 degree thermostat.
I would put on the new cap and put in the water wetter anyway. I wouldn't look at it as if you wasted $20. Both will help you in the long run.

 

[HISSIN50]

Agreed with everyone. You are good to go IMHO.

I would not fuss draining coolant to alter the mixture (doing the math you want involves stoichiometry, which is something I have not thought about in some time. ).

As you need to top up the system, just use straight distilled water and it will fade the mixture down.

For reference, the computer does not even pull any timing until the ECT sees ~226*F IIRC. And the high speed fan on a 5.0 SN95 does not come on till 228*F (If that tells ya anything).

Glad to hear you are out driving it.

 

[jaymac]

If you still have the factory thermostat then it will be a 192 degrees. So 195 is fine for that thermostat. Most like to run a little cooler and put in a 180 degree thermostat.
I would put on the new cap and put in the water wetter anyway. I wouldn't look at it as if you wasted $20. Both will help you in the long run.

I do have a 180* in there, that's why I was wondering. I put on the cap, but not the water wetter yet...
JT, I'm ALWAYS out driving it. They can't keep me away! My $10/day petrol habit proves it!!

 

[HISSIN50]

I hear ya about the Petrol. The 94 takes premium - even worse.

I still think anything under 200*F (op temps) in 90*F+ ambient temps is just fine. The smaller the operating-temp to ambient-temp delta, the harder it is for the system to reject heat. The numbers Derek posted in his first post are about how I feel (with iron heads) as well.

 

[mackey]

Agreed with everyone. You are good to go IMHO.

I would not fuss draining coolant to alter the mixture (doing the math you want involves stoichiometry, which is something I have not thought about in some time. ).

As you need to top up the system, just use straight distilled water and it will fade the mixture down.

For reference, the computer does not even pull any timing until the ECT sees ~226*F IIRC. And the high speed fan on a 5.0 SN95 does not come on till 228*F (If that tells ya anything).

Glad to hear you are out driving it.

212* Actually.

 

[HISSIN50]

212* Actually.

Mackey, you piqued my interest. Do you know if you have a source for that spec? I am wondering if my reference material (which I take to be pretty reliable) is wrong.

Per the factory manual, the stock stat does not even open fully until 212*F, so that rating would seem to be on the low side (let alone being only 4*F warmer than the low-speed-fan 'on' temp).

 

[_jb_]

I run at 190, with a 192* thermo.

 

[Black 93 Fox]

I have the 180 t-stat doesnt hardly ever get above 200. Your running fine with the weather being as hot there.

 

[sgarlic]

Edit: I can't read.. sorry.

 

[jaymac]

I hear ya about the Petrol. The 94 takes premium - even worse.

YUP!
I run 93 all day, every day when it's hot. Sometimes I'll go 91 if I'm at a shell, but never any lower.
Damn timing......

 

[88-GT]

Hey, not trying to jack the thread but I notice alot of you are running in the 180-195 thermostats, I always thought that the cooler the better so i have been running a 160 since the begining of summer. Would this be too cool of a thermo or no worries?

On hot days it does creep up higher, but never goes pasy 185. On cooler days it stays at a pretty solid 165, would I be better off swaping it out for a 180?

 

[jaymac]

My understanding is that 160* will not allow the car to get into the proper fuel cycle, and could cause poor performance and mileage, and 15* would be too low, if I'm not mistaken...

 

[2badazzstangs]

195 is my max temp also, i never had any problems, i overheated at 245 in my old stang