924Board.org

[awilson40]

This isnt a biggie, but I would like some suggestions.
Now that its getting cold, my car never gets up to operating temp. It will if Im sitting at a long light, but once I'm moving the temp will drop way down. I have checked the termostat, It opens at 190 and closes around 170. Any Ideas??
Thanks

[Roger Hall]

Have you checked the operation of booth fans? At a stop temps can rise if there is no airflow over the radiator. When moving the natural air flow will cool the radiator. I had a bad temp switch on an old car, and the car would run fine on the highway but it would overheat durring stop and go driving.

[awilson40]

It never overheats, and the fan does come on when it should. The problem is that it runs way cool when the weather is cold.

[AppleBit]

This may sound wierd, but advance your timing. As the air temp drops, you can get more power out of your engine by advancing the timing (a little bit- but not too much). When you advance your timing, you actually cause the engine to get warmer.

Now, that's just one little trick.

What I would do is cut out a piece of card board the size of your radiator, then cut a small section of the card board out to allow some flow of air to the radiator. This will allow the temp to get warmer.

- Jon

[d12-Matt]

Just out of curiosity, what's better: having the temperature always stay 3/4 the way up the gauge, or always 1/4? That seems to be the difference between the original thermostatic fan switch that opens at 92C, and the new one I got that opens at 82C.

[-nick]

awilson40-
describe what you mean exactly by 'not getting upto operating temperature'.

mine bounces around between just above the white block to just above the first hash mark in the winter. on the highway the needle sits inbetween them. having the temp sit in this range is not really bad, but i don't get super hot air from the heater unless i'm in traffic.

AppleBit is right about advancing the timing. that does add some stress if your engine is really getting up there in miles. running your mix a little lean will also make you run a little warmer- but who wants to do that?

-i forgot about the cardboard trick. i might try that to get some warmer air out of my heater.

d12-Matt-
the lower fan switch has the advantage of keeping your temp a bit more consistent. plus a cooler engine compartment will make you run a little better. i would always recommend it over the stock switch. the fans never come on in mine except if i'm sitting still or in heavy traffic.

regards,
-nick