Radiator temps

[Bobster]

Hey - It has been hot in WV this past two months - temps in high 90's most days. Went to Harbor Freight and bought a non contact thermometer to check radiator temps after a run. I register 180 degrees when I shut off the engine after a five mile circuit - temps rise to 200-206 after shutoff - no boil over. The radiator was "flow tested" at a local shop and declared good. I run 50/50 mix water/antifreeze with no water wetter or any other additive. Motor runs fine, but is the running temp too high? Should I flush out the radiator - engine? I do not think the engine was flushed before I bought the car. There is a lot of heat felt through the floorboards. At 35 mph it subsides some. Thanks, BW

[Jack '29 Sport Coupe]

Soooo, your temps are in the 90's there in WV! Down here in Florida we call that a cool spell! Your temps on your car are a little warmer than I like, but the model A's all seem to have a different sweet spot. On my hottest day here, mine runs between 188 and 190. I'm not using any thing in the radiator but water and a little rust inhibiter. I also do not use a thermostat. You will get a lot of opinions on this subject. This subject and discussions on oil always gets the forum in high gear, lol.
IMHO

Jack

[marc hildebrant]

Bobster,

With a 50/50 mix and temps in the upper 90's, my car ran as high as 190 on moderate hills.

After flushing and using water...I run 160 pretty much all the time here in Colorado (high 90's).

I don't know if its the water or the flush. I used some "green" cleaner (the one with citric in it) to clean out the radiator.

Marc

[PC/SR]

180 is fine, boils off the contaminates in the oil, and a raise in temp on shutdown is normal as the non-circulating water absorbs engine heat. Plain water will run a little cooler. All seems well to me.

[Old182]

I've posted this chart before, but here it is again: With 50/50 you raise your boiling point to 227F, but because ethylene glycol transfers heat about half as good as water, the heat transfer rate is about 75% that of pure water, thus the higher temps. Your numbers are in line with my coupe (fwiw).

[antiquepa]

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BW IN WVa.. Im from wheeling, and I run just plain water w/rust prohibter and my car runs cooler, never had a boil over, when I ran a 50/50 mix I had trouble even with a new radiator..just my 2cents worth.

[cars56]

I run Purple Ice, 20% glycol and the remainder distilled water, no thermostat. No gauge but the motometer registers on the 1st line that goes accross the bottom. Does anyone know what temp that is?
Thanks

[Kurt in NJ]

With a 160 tstat my motormeter reads radiator temp, most times it runs below "cold motor use cover" line, on a long slow parade in 95 degrees it will eventually get to the bottom of the circle, 60 mph on the 95 day it will get close to the circle, I have only gotten it to the top of the circle once but that was my fault, i was on the dynomonometer on a hot day too long checking my fuel mixture.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Jack '29 Sport Coupe

Soooo, your temps are in the 90's there in WV! Down here in Florida we call that a cool spell! Your temps on your car are a little warmer than I like, but the model A's all seem to have a different sweet spot. On my hottest day here, mine runs between 188 and 190. I'm not using any thing in the radiator but water and a little rust inhibiter. I also do not use a thermostat. You will get a lot of opinions on this subject. This subject and discussions on oil always gets the forum in high gear, lol.
IMHO

Jack

I have to agree 100% with all points. I also add some water wetter.

[pdora]

How hot is it actually?

Many Ford Barn threads are concerned with the temperature of various automotive components: A generator or carburetor or radiator is too hot.

How hot is too hot?

It might be helpful to provide actual temperature readings with the use of an infrared thermometer. These divices are inexpensive and accurate enough for such purposes.

Here is one example.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by pdora

How hot is it actually?

As he said;

"Went to Harbor Freight and bought a non contact thermometer to check radiator temps after a run. I register 180 degrees when I shut off the engine after a five mile circuit - temps rise to 200-206 after shutoff - no boil over."

So your answer is - 180 at shut down 200-206 shortly after.

[skip]

"temps rise to 200-206 after shutoff" so? Sounds OK to me. Your running 1300 deg F in the combustion chamber and when the cooling is shut down I would expect the temperature of the coolant to reflect a small bump in temperature as the 1300 deg F is absorbed by the uncirculated water. As long as you don't loose water..."any temp is fine". [Jaguar owner's manual].

skip.

[LeroyM]

I had an new core put in my original radiator. I did a short 10 mile or so trip Saturday with the outside temp being around 85 degrees. When I got home and checked my radiator was 155 degrees up top and 145 degrees on the bottom and 165 degrees right at the block where the water comes out with just plain water and a can of rust preventive. I'm running a Model B motor and was doing about 55 mph or so all the time.

[Cajun]

Originally Posted by Old182

I've posted this chart before, but here it is again: With 50/50 you raise your boiling point to 227F, but because ethylene glycol transfers heat about half as good as water, the heat transfer rate is about 75% that of pure water, thus the higher temps. Your numbers are in line with my coupe (fwiw).

If you read the chart carefully, you will note that the temperatures quoted is with a 15 psig cap. The boiling point increase is MUCH less dramatic with a non-pressure system.

[Bob S]

I believe that chart gives temps for atmospheric (non pressurized) as well as 15 pound pressure cap.

[Cajun]

That's correct. My mistake. Old eyes can't see the fine print.

[Aerocraft]

Old 182 quoted the chart correctly. 227 degrees F at atmospheric pressure. Gar Williams