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| | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 | I am just trying to get a good indication of an acceptable running temperature. Its a 52 suburban but came with a 292. I replaced the thermostat and now the temperature seems to hover around the 200 mark which is only 20 shy of the high end on my gauge. I though it should be running a little cooler than that; maybe 180? Thanks | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | it should be running about whatever the thermostat is rated at .... get a laser digital thermometer and check the actual temp on various points of the system and see how well it's working and get a comparison to your gauge, never trust gauges, senders, and thermostats
Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 | Is there a "standard" temperature for a stock 292 though? Does 200 sound OK if the gauge is accurate? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I think Red's point is the thermostat sets the minimum running temperature. What is the rating of your thermostat? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | yes, what truckernix said, the "standard" thermostat would be 160 or 180, and operating temperature will be a few degrees above that rating - did you put in a 200? did you check it before installing? how do you know the gauge is accurate? as long as it's not boiling over it's not broke, but 200 is high and you need to know if that's true and understand why
Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 | The one i put in is a 195. In a moment of pure novice thinking i went to autozone and asked for a thermostat and just accepted what they gave me and figured they gave me the right one as i gave the vehicle/engine specs. After watching the needle climb toward the end of the gauge limit (220) it dawned on me that i never saw it sit that high up before. Is there anything wrong with switch out a 195 for a 180? are there drawbacks to that? When sitting at lights the needle will climb to 220 and that worries me. Thank you for the replys so far. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | well there ya go, with a 195, it cannot run any cooler than 195-200, and when sitting still there's not sufficient air flow thru the rad to keep it even at that .... yes, change to a 180, or even a 160 for the summer, and 180 in winter if you use it then - with a 160 it may well still run around 180-190, it'll show you where it "wants to be" ... you simply want to prevent it from running too cold and have enough restriction in the system to keep the coolant flowing at the design rate
Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 | thank you for the reply - a switch is in order this weekend | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I will add that with my 216, there is a slight overshoot when the thermostat is initially opening. With a 160 thermostat, it is quite small but with a 180 it is much more noticeable. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,191 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,191 | Where is the temp sender mounted? My 250 (same head as your 292) read about 20 degrees hotter when the sender was in the head between #1 and #2 cylinders. I moved the sender right under the thermostat for a more accurate reading. Now the gauge shows right at or slightly above T-stat temp. I did confirm this with infra-red thermometer.
As a side note, the engine will be more efficient at the hotter temperature. Mine runs best with a 180, 160 was just to cold.
Joe
Last edited by Joe H; 08/09/2012 9:12 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 33 | The sender is located in the same place you mentioned on the block between the 1 and 2 cylinders. Are there any particular thermostats to look for over others? I have only an autozone or pepboys by me. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | thermostats are all the same Drew, most are from Stant or Gates
Bill | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | In the world we are in now a 195 thermostat is the proper one. The guys pushing buttons at the flaps havn't been around long enough to know that prior to computer controls 180 was more the normal. As Joe mentioned an engine is more efficient running warmer than colder.
I'd be cautious of buying cheapo thermostats, I always try and get a Stant superstat or a name brand premium part. If you take a premium thermostat and compare it to a cheapo one you will see the difference. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 121 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 121 | Leave the thermostat in. The hotter you can run your engine, within reason, the longer it will last and the more efficient it will be. Most of the newer stuff runs over 200 degrees. If you have a 7# radiator cap and are running a 50/50 mix of antifreeze you will not have any boiling problems at temperatures well above 200 degrees. | | |
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