Thread: Can engine temp be to cold?

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After I put a 160* thermostat in my small block it never gets over 160-170.Is this safe?It seems to run a little better than it did with the 190 stat and starts better too.Any advice?

Originally Posted by camaro77

After I put a 160* thermostat in my small block it never gets over 160-170.Is this safe?It seems to run a little better than it did with the 190 stat and starts better too.Any advice?

I would try and run around 200 F.

i am also running a 160 in a sbc 350. is that wrong? if so should i run something higher?

With the 180 dergree thermostat being the a all around best for street. What about a performance engine , like a drag strip engine?

When we drag race, always try to have the engine temp at 185-190 when the car is in the beams, ready to launch. Whatever temp you pick, do it the same every time or the consistency will go away.... As with everything in drag racing, make it the same every pass!!!! Watched lots of guys not pay attention to engine temp at launch, then come back to the pits and play with carb and timing issues, then make the next pass with a cold engine, and wonder where they went wrong!!!!

So Dave should I be running a 180 degree instead of a 160 degree? This is just for the street.

IMO, an engine has to be at least 180 to run efficiently. I'd check the specs for your car, and put in the thermostat the factory had in the car. In a pressurized cooling system, operating temps in the 190 to 195 degree range seem to be pretty much the norm. I'm sure there are some specs someplace that show what temp an engine is most efficient at. Greater efficiency will improve both performance and fuel mileage.

thanks dave your advice has always been right on the money.

My truck alway run at 200° when I tore down the engine and founded that the cylinder wall had very little wear and everything else looked great so I did build it back to Std and still running great. So I believed the hotter the engine run will have lot less wear that the cooler engine.

have a 195 in both my carb'd 302's. Motor runs better, less wear. The crap that passes for fuel these days needs all the help it can get.

Its been my experience in the past...you want to run the engine at the higher operating temperature like 180+ just because the cylinder head pressure will be higher which will also maintain a more stable compression.....ex. rings will be expanded more. But we (friends at strip) found that obviously you can go to high. I like the 180+ and had no problem running a destroked 400 with 12.5 to 1 compression all day at the track but my cooling system was up to par.

180 - 200 would be best. I agree with Fitzwell, piss poor gas they sell today won't fully detonate in a colder engine.

A hotter engine is a cleaner engine. oil stays decent, dosn't sludge up as much/ fast, so it can keep everything cleaner. not to mention a hotter engine burns cleaner ( less carbon ).

I just did a head gasket on my grandparents '95 Plymouth Voyager van engine ( 2.5 4cyl ), it has a factory 195* Tstat and low tension rings. it has 172,000 miles and the cross hatching is still visable. has no ring ridge ither. it runs CLEAN.

Thanks for all the replies.With my 195 it would run alittle hot and not want to turn over very easy.This is in my 77 camaro with a 355,11:1,64cc iron heads,and a stockish(?) starter.But with the 160 it runs much cooler and turns over easier.But I kind of figured the temp needed to a little higher.This car is being built for some bracket racing and still street legal.I can cut the fans off and get more heat in it pretty easy at the track but running down the highway the temp stays low.So maybe the 180 stat will be just right.I'll need a better starter soon anyway so that sounds like the plan.
AGAIN THANKS FOR THE HELP,I HOPE ALL YALL KNOW HOW MUCH REAL HELP I HAVE RECIEVED FROM CLUBHOTROD.MY BUILD HAS BEEN MUCH EASIER KNOWING I COULD ASK ANY QUESTION ON HERE AND GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

If its a small block chevy, its gonna run for 200k miles hot or cold regardless, so don't worry about it!