More cooling?

[BR3W CITY]

I'm running a be-cool SBC radiator with its matching fan, along with a Derale trans cooler with its own dedicated fan. I'm currently on a stock Tstat, and the computer controls the fan on/off.

Went for a drive today about 45-1hr tops, it was about 90* and humid. Initially it was all city but I did hit the freeway for a few stints. While driving and around town temps were mainly ~188*, getting up to about *195 but not past. On the last leg of the trip, it climbed to 198, and hit 200* as I was in the driveway. I let it idle for about a minute but temps came up to 204*, after another minute of not going down I popped the hood and shut it off.

I checked the overflow and it only had ~1/2" of coolant, so its not like it boiled crazy and filled up the overflow or anything.
I waited a few more minutes, and went to check the rad cap ***NOTE**** this was really F**king stupid because it was still do hot and I cascaded some nice scalding coolant on my hand. There was definately still tons of heat (and pressure) in the system, but I do have a vented 16lb cap....so I figured if it actually was going to boil over it would have done so out of the cap or into the overflow.



What do you think? 204* seems high to me, yet sitting idle in a driveway on a 90* day maybe its not that strange. The fans were turning on just fine.

Should I try to find a new stat (looks like its part of the housing?)
Should I try to take my rad out and clean it (in case I got paint overspray or dust caked in from sitting being built)?
Or should I really look at getting more fan?

I never had the problem last year but didnt' drive it on any super hot days.

[whitels1]

I wouldn't sweat 205! Since my swap I have noticed it fluctuating between 195 and 205. As long as the system is building pressure and the fans are moving air, I would not worry.

[clinebarger]

205 degrees is fine, 220 wouldnt scare me.
At sea level...Straight water boils at 212*
Cutting the water 50/50 with antifreeze raises the boiling point.
Running the system under pressure also raises the boiling point.

A cooling system thats under 15 psi of pressure & has a 50/50 mix wouldnt boil until 250* to 260*.

I used to tow a BIG 5ver with diesel pick-ups on vacations, On long steep grades on hot days it wasnt uncommon to see 240* coolant temps....Never hurt any of my engines.

Dont believe the hype on 160* thermostats....They are JUNK. Stick with your stock 195* stat.

[mooseknuckles]

I basically have the same set up as you....but with a aftermarket f-body pump.......never gets hot, ever....fan only come's on in traffic or sitting, runs 180* all day long.....180* t-stat too. think the ls engine's run a little hotter, but 220* in a sbc wont last long.....

[awhite4557]

I have a 5.3 with 4 row factory radiator, 180 thermostat. I have a dual electric fan set-up and mine runs 195 -205 all the time.

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by mooseknuckles

I basically have the same set up as you....but with a aftermarket f-body pump.......never gets hot, ever....fan only come's on in traffic or sitting, runs 180* all day long.....180* t-stat too. think the ls engine's run a little hotter, but 220* in a sbc wont last long.....

If a engine cant stand 220*......It's not a good engine anyway!

Ive had my fair share of SBC & BBC engines, Worked them hard in 107* weather with the AC on......220 will NOT hurt them!

[Billyburban]

What f body are you referring to ? Year make am model please thank you

[BR3W CITY]

Alright thanks guys, this is the first trip out since its been together, painted etc....and since I was out of commission with surgery, so I'm probably just over-paranoid about having her on the road. I hadn't EVER seen it run over 198*, but again because its been apart longer than together lately, I may just never have had it get there.

Cline, why do you say the 160* are hype? I know they only open sooner, which I guess still means that if my system is at full cooling capacity, a new stat won't change that.

Half-related thought, anyone used the electric water pumps for these cars?

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Alright thanks guys, this is the first trip out since its been together, painted etc....and since I was out of commission with surgery, so I'm probably just over-paranoid about having her on the road. I hadn't EVER seen it run over 198*, but again because its been apart longer than together lately, I may just never have had it get there.

Cline, why do you say the 160* are hype? I know they only open sooner, which I guess still means that if my system is at full cooling capacity, a new stat won't change that.

Half-related thought, anyone used the electric water pumps for these cars?

They are Hype because if they do regulate the temp (winter only around here) The engine is to cold.....Engine life suffers ALOT at cold operating temps.

In summer it stays open, Coolant passes to fast through the radiator for the coolant to effectively shed heat.....Causing the engine to heat.

[chevy-fun]

I see no problem with it. I have a dual core radiator an temps here in tx 90-105. My temps are around 188-196 with fan off. If I sit more then 5-10min idling temps get to 205 an ill manually turn fan on(toggle switch). Other the that I never have fan on
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[68GMCCustom]

BR3W...your radiator looked gunked up with paint to me in some of the pics I saw. If you're still having issues... I'd find a way to clean out those cooling fins. I've had dirt and bugs gunk up one bad enough to raise the temps....would imagine oversprayed w/paint to be about as bad?

[BR3W CITY]

Thanks for the replies. Since this happened I've re-balanced the ratio of coolant in the system, and I'm going to add some Purple Ice again this year.

I did use a hose to wash out the radiator best I could with it in the truck, and tool a piece of 500 grit and lightly sanded the "face" of the radiator that I could reach, hoping to knock off any overspray dust that may have landed there. We did block off the rad for paint, but didn't completely cover it, so something may have worked its way in/around. There isn't any Blue though, so it might have been a tiny bit of primer if anything.

I've put around 90miles a day on it the past few days, temps have seemed to stay under 192* without issue, although the temp did come down a tad.

[solidaxel]

I would be more concerned with the fan moving air through the rad than the thermostat
My fan turns on with the computer when it reaches 205.8* and off at 195.4* will cool it down and run on the 195 thermostat when it is just ideling

[Andy4639]

The cooling isn't a problem until it reaches 220 and above! GM LS motors run all day long here in SC at 210 in my 08 Tahoe and my 6.0 in my truck runs 189. because we put a cooler thermastate in it. Buy you a cheap infer red temp gun at harbor freight and check it. I bet you your less than you think. The gauges are a good guide but not 100%
Mine will run 200-220 when I run through the Mts here in the summer.