After fighting "high engine temps" in my BJ8 for years by installing a new
radiator, radiator shroud, Texas Kooler, coolant overflow system, 160-degree
thermostat, de-gunking the cooling passages during the engine rebuild, and
using pure water and all grades and quantities of Water Wetter, I finally
checked the calibration of my temp gauge (the gauge had been professionally
rebuilt some years ago, and so its cal wasn't suspected). I found it to be
reading about 15-20 degrees high. After re-calibration of the gauge, the
car now runs too cool (160-175) in the winters, and around 190-195 in the
summers. It can even handle summer stop and go traffic as long as it isn't
for too long.
The car still has a 160-deg. thermostat, and I will change it to 180-deg. as
soon as convenient. A thermostat will control engine coolant temps only
until it reaches full open. After that a 160 and 180 are the same. If I
had a 180, the summer upper engine temps would be the same, but the 180
would stay partially closed in the winter, thus raising the lower
temperature compared to the wide-open 160.
My recommendation, then, would be to check the accuracy of the temp gauge
before doing much else.
Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666
BJ8 Registry
Havelock, NC USA
>On Wed, 26 May 2004 07:23:56 -0500 Rizzo Steven D LtCol AETC/XPRU
<Steven.Rizzo@RANDOLPH.AF.MIL> wrote.
>Just another little note on the cooling issue: Make sure you have the air
>deflectors (or whatever the real name for them is) around the radiator
>installed properly. A nice tight fit on these can make a real difference.
>Stever
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net] On
>Behalf Of Dave & Marlene
>Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 7:49 PM
>To: Patton Dickson
>Cc: Healeys@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: Thermostat Selection in Hot climates
>
>Patton,
>I think that the important thing on the six cylinder engines is to get
>the correct thermostat with the sleeve on it. The sleeve covers a bypass
>port in the head when the thermo is open. Not at Pep Boys. Check with
>one of the Healey specialty vendors. Also make sure that you have the
>long radiator cap. The usual ones are too short to seal the system. I
>think NAPA # 703-1411 works.
>
>Dave Russell
>BN2
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