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| | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 | My truck is running at about 150 F after warming up and driving a while. It never gets much above that.
What am I hurting? would a new thermostat fix it?
Alex
57' 3100 (The Bondo Bandit)
Bad rust and worse wiring, but so much fun.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | Perhaps. Sounds like your T-stat is not closing. Take it out and see if it's open and test by placing it in a pan of hot water and see if it works. Could also be your sending unit and/or guage. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 | The gauge is mechanical, and i checked it when I put it in by heating water and comparing what it said to a cooking thermometer. Ill pull the thermostat this weekend and check it like you said
Alex
57' 3100 (The Bondo Bandit)
Bad rust and worse wiring, but so much fun.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | Make sure you have a good quality thermostat. Some of the cheaper ones don't do a good job. I've always had good luck with Stant Superstats. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 | They're cheap too! lol is a 180 deg a good standard? I wont be racing or anything, just driving with the occasional lead foot 
Alex
57' 3100 (The Bondo Bandit)
Bad rust and worse wiring, but so much fun.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | 180 should be fine for a 283 | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 138 | I didn't get the new one in this weekend like I had hoped, but I did get to do a little more observing of the thermostat while driving. Again, it never got above 150, less at times. But when I stopped and cut it off, it rose to about 175 before cooling off again.
Is this normal? Is it really running at 175 and the copper line to the gauge is losing some of the heat before it gets to the gauge?
If it matters, the fan is just a solid bolt on, not clutched or electric.
Alex
57' 3100 (The Bondo Bandit)
Bad rust and worse wiring, but so much fun.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | the temperature will go up a bit after you shut it off because the water is no longer circulating, but is still absorbing the heat from the engine metal, sounds like the gauge may be OK .... the best check is to use a digital laser thermometer, check the temp of the stat housing when it's up to temp, don't depend on a dash gauge [and it's sender] until you check it in action on the vehicle .... a 283 works best with a 180 stat, they like running 180-200
Bill | | |
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