normal temp?

[rx-tang]

hey guys... new here...
just curious what normal operating temp for a stock 302 is...
the motor is from around the 87 year..
i figure it should stay around 180-195.... anything higher makes me nervous..
thanks.

 

[Mustang5L5]

190-205

Modern engines run hotter these days. But if it starts getting around 215-220 i'd get worried.

 

[rx-tang]

mine hit 230.... lol... but i'm pretty sure my gauge wasn't reading accurate...
probably some air still hanging in the system... just got the motor running and i'm still trying to work out the bugs.. doing a flush of the system after work today.. i was just curious what normal temp was..

 

[Mustang5L5]

230 is def too hot..but what are you using to measure this? The stock gauge?

 

[rx-tang]

nope... brand new mech gauge... reading from manifold before thermostat housing.. but i just realized my rad placement is probably causing an air pocket in that area... the motor is in an 85 rx7 .... so the top of the rad sits lower than the highest point of the motor.... therefor that air pocket isn't getting bled out.. so my temp probably wasn't actually that high... i hope.. lol..
thanks for the imput...

 

[89streetbeast]

easy way to bleed off the system is pull a heater core hose if equiped, put a thumb over the fitting and wait till coolant comes out the hose. works 95% of the time. might help you in this case if it is an air pocket, other option maybe a waterpump going bad or a funky thermostat

 

[Fast63]

stock thermostat is 195 which means it should run at least that all the time. 230 is starting to get pretty warm, I don't think I would want it above that. But certainly 220 is nothing to worry about.

 

[Ike83]

I'm consistently at 205 to 210 degrees fahrenheit depending on the outside temperature and how HARD I'm running the beast.

I've read several threads that indicate 205 degrees fahrenheit is the best temp. to run at because the engine is combusting the fuel in the cylinders at its best....leaving no unburnt fuel on the cylinder walls. Plus...your pistons are heated up and have properly swelled up to the right size against the cylinder walls.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

My 91 5.0L never gets over the 3rd line in the stock temp gauge. I have 180* t stat, new water pump, new hoses and new anti freeze. All my 5.0L get cooling tune ups. Cheap insurance.

 

[skunk21]

I'm running new rad, new wp, new 195 stat, new hoses, etc. also have autometer gauge reading just under 210 so maybe 208 ish, totally normal for the 5.0. too cold is not good for the motor either.

 

[rx-tang]

ok cool.... makes me feel a bit better... i'm going to flush the block and the rad just to rule out anything blocking the coolant passages...
thanks guys..