[tnsmith10]

hey all, this is just 1 of those things i havent had much problems with but, it seems as though to me i might have 1. got my little inline running hot (to me at least) it was running around 210-215 with the sender in the head. i was running a 180* thermostat b4 (never got above 200), and put a 195* in. (thought that was what i had in it). anyways, too hot or no??? its a 76 pontiac ventura, 250 inline 6. non integral head, its off a 72 nova. (did that so i could run a 4 barrel carb.). anyways, im putting a 180 back in it for now, but if its not too hot, then ill put the 195 back in this weekend... thx

[richard stewart 3rd]

Hi,
I would leave the 195* in,
it's not overheating or you would
be telling us about the smoke that
was coming from under the hood.
Also a warmer engine is more
efficient, however, running that
195*thermo. requires the use of
antifreeze, as antifreeze raises the
boiling point of the water, along
with the pressure cap, each pound
of pressure raises the boiling point
2*, water boils at 212*+ 15# cap 242*
50/50 mix I forget, but it's up there.
Take care,
rich

[curtis73]

I agree. Temps in the head will always be hotter than the stat. Engines like to be hot, drivers like them cool. Keep the 195

[Henry Highrise]

Everything they are telling you is right on....you will also get better gas mileage with the 195 .

[matt167]

yup.. Overheating is not running hot actually, it's when the coolant boils. new engines run 225* they have been running this hot from the Factory since the early 90's because of emissions

[curtis73]

Its important (however extraneous) to note that overheating is only a problem because of boiling. When coolant boils, you have big bubbles on the surface of the water jackets instead of full coolant coverage. The result is that the engine gets dangerously hot in some places and normal in others. That actual temperature of the engine is somewhat irrelevant, its the amount of heat that is being transferred that is key.

I have one car with Evans NPG coolant (no water) and I've run it up to 260 more than once. I monitor oil temp pretty carefully, but as long as my oil doesn't go past about 230, there is nothing bad happening. But, 260 in most water cooled systems will cause boiling and lots of damage. It was pretty sluggish at that temp, but no detonation or damage.

[tnsmith10]

ok, cool... will put 195 back in this weekend... now, riddle me this, i am smelling antifreeze going down the road, mostly upper speeds (freeway), and its not loosing anitffreeze at all. now, the kicker, i didnt start smelling it till i put a new radiator in. and like i said, i check the level and its full, overflow bottle right where its supposed to be, and i got antifreeze smell. ive been wrenching for years and never had this b4 in any car. im thinking of pulling the heater core this weekend to make sure thats not it cause nothing is leaking and all connections r dry..

[57 Chevy]

Originally Posted by tnsmith10

i didn't start smelling it till i put a new radiator in. and like i said, i check the level and its full, overflow bottle right where its supposed to be, and i got antifreeze smell. I've been wrenching for years and never had this b4 in any car. I'm thinking of pulling the heater core this weekend to make sure that's not it cause nothing is leaking and all connections r dry..

New radiator and I bet a new cap too. What is the pressure cap rated at? It could be more than your heater core can handle.

[curtis73]

I've had that happen twice to me; once was a slow dripping leak in the heater core, and the other was a defective radiator cap that constantly let a little steam out and it would smell.

[tnsmith10]

well i believe i have found the problem, seems to be the heater core. will be pulling it out and seeing what went wrong with it... it cant be but a crack or something, because the system isnt loosing coolant., just fogging up the windshield... well, thx for the info guys off to fix the jalopy.