Thread: Stage 1 Running hot

I run a Stage 1 V8 and regularly drive in temperatures well over 45 degrees and have no issues.
A couple of things I have noticed
1) If you buy temperature senders for a V8 the modern ones seems to read high with a Stage 1 not sure why but presume they are different than Range Rover gauges. I say this but the part numbers are the same for the sender.
2) If you are talking outback temps I would run a 74 degree thermostat. I wouldnt like to do short runs in the desert as the temps would be too low but it all works fine in the North West.

Whats your radiator like? if its old crusty and the original it may need to be replaced or at least rodded out. I personally use a modified core in mine not sure what it is but Its has as many rows as possible.

Did you do any recent work on the cooling system did it have an air block?
Was it overheating or just indicating that it was? do you have an issue with earthing on the instrument panel (were the other gauges doing odd things)
When a Stage 1 runs hot on petrol it will usually run like crap because of the heat under the bonnet.

Hope this helps

Thanks Djam
Not sure about the actual temperature, the needle usually hovers just below the red section but on Saturday it maxed out - seemed to run fine, may be a little misfire here and there, but generally ok.
Recently had to replace the heater hose as the old one had a split - could this have any relevance. - Can that cause an air block?

Radiator is brand new, and the rest of the guages seem to be working fine, on Saturday it just seemed the faster I went, the higher the temperature got.
Admittedly I was towing a trailer to the tip, but wasn't that heavy, and regardless it still ran hot on the way Home.

But as I say, it seemed to run fine, just got worried I was going to cook it.

When I originally bought it, it came with a spare water pump that had never been fitted, maybe the previous owner thought that might be an issue.

It has an after market auto fitted with an oil cooler right in front of the radiator which doesn't help, but as I say it ran beautifully for 2 hours each way down the coast a few weeks ago.

Its always bloody something, every time I get in the car, I have this nagging feeling that I might not make it.

Thanks for your suggestions

Sam

I fitted and engine saver to monitor the head temp and found this to be really useful.
I would be inclined to determine the actual operating temp the modern senders will run just below the red on the temp gauge, they are a fairly honest gauge and will move up a couple of needle thicknesses if pushed in deep sand at high temperatures.

I used an old Stage 1 sender and it runs just below the N on the gauge the head temp is about 80 degrees when its running there.
Does it use water intermittently old V8s can have crook head gaskets but you can usually pick this in other ways.