Water temp?
 

What is the normal water temperature of a running Model A? I run straight water. Thanks.

Re: Water temp?
 

mine runs 170* while cruising down the highway in the Texas heat

Re: Water temp?
 

Mine runs 165 all the time with the thermostat......

Re: Water temp?
 

Mine runs about 140 F. This is with straight water and no thermostat.

I would be curious if anyone knows the temp that Ford thought the Model A would run at under "normal" conditions.

Marc

Re: Water temp?
 

140 was what I got before installing a thermostat. We did an investigation regarding operating temperatures needed for optimum fuel burn and that is 160 degrees. Remember when the Model A came out the fuel did not have all the additives etc. we have now so you need to have your engine matching what is being used not what it was originally designed for because those fuels are no long available.

Re: Water temp?
 

Mine ran about 140 without thermostat, put in a 160 thermostat, got 2.5 mpg more with just that change, it is one of the old style thermostats with a big flap and a bi-metal coil, so far 25+ years with no problems, at the time I was changing the hose and had just found the tstat in the trash

If you read the back of a motormeter it says ---"cold motor use radiator cover "in the area under about 160

Re: Water temp?
 

140 to 160, depending on weather and whether I'm driving along or idling in traffic. Running straight water. Have never seen it go above 165.

Re: Water temp?
 

180 degrees with a 180 degree thermostat and brassworks radiatior no mater how warm or cold out it is.

Re: Water temp?
 

Thanks for all the replies.

Re: Water temp?
 

A club member used a mini infrared themometer on my radiator yesterday. It measured 172 degrees at the top or the radiator and 152 at the bottom. The head measured 185 degrees.

Now I want one of those mini infrared thermometers! (It's smaller than a garage door opener.)

When I first got the car, I worried about not having a temp gauge. I never had trouble, so the worry went away. Now I'd like one of those little infrared units just to play with. What a cool device! (Get it? :) )

Re: Water temp?
 

I bought mine at Harbor Freight. I used it to check transistor temps when I was testing heat sinks on the output transistors of the EVR's I make, as well as checking radiators and brake temps.

Re: Water temp?
 

I bought a little more $$ one from Mastercool that can have an external thermocouple and a range to 2000 degrees -- http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDi...kup=MAS52225-A


then I just saw this-- http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0COABEPMCMAU

Re: Water temp?
 

The infrared thermometer I saw yesterday looked something like this. Are these any good?

http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...ter-93983.html

Re: Water temp?
 

I like this one even better with the temp range and price.
http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...ter-96451.html

Re: Water temp?
 

That's the one I bought and like, but I only paid about $25 for it 5 years ago.

Re: Water temp?
 

I have the same one as Tom. Harbor Freight , Great thing for checking temps all over engine & radiator , you will be surprised at the reading, Tryied on the wife but no reading ???