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What temperature should a 289 block run? I changed my radiator to aluminum and it runs about 158 in Texas summer heat, I feel that may be too cold. I think that I am running a 180 degree thermostat. I plan on adding A/C next summer!
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The most common thermostat used around here is 180*, but each engine is its own beast. You must do some trial and error to get the one correct for you. That said, I think that your temp is way too low. You must experiment with any where from 160*- 190* and determine which one works best for you. Some thermostats have the temp figure stamped on the collar. Check yours out.
The main issue is that the thing keeps you running in both cold and hot weather.
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You should run the hottest thermostat you can without it overheating. Engines are most efficient when hot, and wear is greatly reduced as well. But, if you are only seeing 158 degrees and running a 180 degree t-stat the t-stat isn't even opening. The issue then is that you are overcooling. The radiator may be too big for the heat load. Now that will change if you add AC.
How are you measuring temperature and are you sure that is accurate?
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That seems to be low, maybe the thermostat is stuck open? What/How are you measuring the temperature?
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My 289 would run at 180 or so with a 180 thermostat in 90 degree Minnesota summer. But in real slow going like getting into a car show it wanted to run much hotter. Also it would cool to 160 when on highway. I did not like all the fluctuation so went to a alum radiator with a genuine Motorcraft 192 degree thermostat. I have a electric fan in front of radiator wired to come on at 200 if needed. It has a flex fan on the waterpump but no shroud. It now runs right at 195 degrees all the time. Since putting in the 192 thermostat, I've noticed my gas mileage has improved by 2 mpg and runs quite a bit better. The oil also stays way cleaner.
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Sounds like I need to get a 195 thermostat!
Thanks
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Triton wrote:
Sounds like I need to get a 195 thermostat!
Thanks
I'd like to have a gauge that I could have some confidence in. My factory gauge is all over the map, appearing too cool on the fwy and too hot in slow traffic. I have a 7 blade flex fan (properly shrouded) and a 180° stat. My mileage also sucks.
Last edited by boomyal (11/19/2015 7:37 PM)
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Boomyal
I will pull my gauges over the winter and have Rocketman recalibrate. My temp is consistent with an IR, gauge is off.
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MWM, where do you measure using the IR meter? I also run really cold. Probably will change out my thermostat this winter. I have to block off half of the air coming through the radiator in the winter time.
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MWM wrote:
Boomyal
I will pull my gauges over the winter and have Rocketman recalibrate. My temp is consistent with an IR, gauge is off.
MWM, who is Rocketman?... and what does he do to recalibrate a temp guage. When an IR indicates I am running at around thermostat opening (180°) my gauge is showing 80% on it's scale. If 180ish is good then the needle should be right in the middle. Also, I think that most of my time I am running too cold.
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Mochaman
I have measured in front of the thermostat housing and behind on the manifold and compared to the thermostat setting.
Boomyal
I too would like my 180 to match the midway mark, but my gauge is reading between the M and P. Below is a link to the gauge service
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MWM wrote:
Mochaman
I have measured in front of the thermostat housing and behind on the manifold and compared to the thermostat setting.
Boomyal
I too would like my 180 to match the midway mark, but my gauge is reading between the M and P. Below is a link to the gauge service
My 180 reads between M & P also, but it has been doing that for 20 years. I think that is normal. I bet a 170 would show between E & M, but what the gauge shows and what is best for you car is not necessarily the same thing.
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Have you tried another gauge or temp gun?
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If you're reading to test the accuracy of the gauge you need to read at the t-stat housing, or close by, because that's where the factory sender is. Remember that the reading you get from any gauge is not a real measurement of what's going on in the entire cooling system; its a reading of what the coolant temp is where the sender is located. There will be spots in the cooling system that are 50-100 degrees hotter, but you have to assume that the sender was placed by the factory engineers to read overall system temperature.
Running 160 with a 180 degree t-stat means either your gauge is off, or the t-stat is stuck open, or the radiator is way too big (not likely given the confines of the early Mustang opening). You can see times when the engine won't get to temperature even if everything's right, but it would have to be like 10 degrees out. In those cases you simply block part of the radiator opening with cardboard. I get this in the dead of winter with my F250, but you're talking about a 7 gallon cooling system and a giant radiator built to ensure it doesn't overheat towing 30,000lbs. up a 10% grade at 5,000' elevation. This is why you'll see those covers on the front of the big rigs on Ice Road Truckers. They close off part or even all of the grill opening to trap the heat in the engine.
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