How hot is too hot

Also, at higher temps, the ally block grows at different rates as the steel components in the engine. What was once a tight fit, is now sloppy.

For example, Main bearing caps which have to be snapped in on a cold motor, then become loose and twist as the engine overheats and you go bang. Not too bad with a cross bolted setup, but on the old 3.5's, the caps are not held by much to begin with.

Put a 74 Degree thermostat in it today made a huge difference doesn't even run warm now.
I hope it'll be OK it doesn't get much below 20 Degrees here even in winter lol

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Originally Posted by djam1

Put a 74 Degree thermostat in it today made a huge difference doesn't even run warm now.
I hope it'll be OK it doesn't get much below 20 Degrees here even in winter lol

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.... which car have you put the thermostat in?? :confused: is it the blue one in your avatar or something else?

also EFI or Carby?

Its in a Series 3 Stage 1 with a reco 1986 high compression Range Rover Motor.
It runs all its life on Gas but has standard dual carbs

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Originally Posted by LOVEMYRANGIE

If your running at 95 on road, its probably a bit to the higher side of where you want an aluminium engine to be. I would guess your running a std radiator also?? Would look at getting a bigger core radiator if thats the case and make sure you use good coolant. Redline Water Wetter is excellent.
As your coolant gets hotter, so does your oil and oil breaks down the hotter it gets. If you run it all day everyday like this, your oils going to carbonise and foul up quicker if you use mineral base.

In a race car its a different story. Running high revs and hard load all the time you are going to run hotter, nothing you can do about it, but the radiator wont be std and oil gets changed basically every meet.

Any performance setup will change normal operating parameters, you just need to deal with the changes......

Take into account also that using normal tap water, due to things like calcium, lime and other solubles, it actually lowers the boiling point of water, ie rainwater, de ionised or distilled water wont boil till 100 degC, but tap water depending where on the planet you are can boil from as low as 93 deg where high levels of soluble minerals etc are present.
Next time it rains, stick a bucket outside and get as much as you can, then put a saucepan of rainwater and a saucepan of tapwater side by side on the stove and see which one boils first!

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thanks for that, may check what my thermostat is too.

radiator i freshly rebuilt 3 core number from my isuzu. can't get any wider in the front of a fender.

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Originally Posted by djam1

Its in a Series 3 Stage 1 with a reco 1986 high compression Range Rover Motor.
It runs all its life on Gas but has standard dual carbs

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No wonder your getting different reactions from the thermostats :)

If your not happy with the 74 ...


try a 78 degree ... as my gauge is showing 1/4 temp and the V8 runs & sounds real sweet

I run a 74 degree thermostat in my 4.6, which is running with twin SU carburettors. Might be a touch cool in winter here in Sydney, but for the rest of the year, especially in Summer, its pretty good.

Ron.