No; But If You're Always At 240 Degrees, There's A Problem.
J. - I have a 1967 Chevelle with a 454 ci. Some say to shut it off if it reaches 210 degrees. Others say to shut it off at 240 degrees. Does a fan shroud actually help with cooling?
B.T. - I shut mine off at 250 degrees. It is much better if you can get the car moving to cool it off. I will not run a car without a fan shroud, it will never run cool without one, even with electric pusher fans.
T.S. - If a fan shroud came with your engine originally, it is a major component in your cooling system. Without it your fan has a more difficult time drawing air through the radiator. Proper spacing of the fan is also very important. The fan should be approximately half in and half out of the shroud when viewed from the side. Two hundred ten degrees is not "too hot"; that's not even boiling. Running the proper mixture of anti-freeze and water (50/50 mix) and a pressure cap will raise the boiling point (figure one degree rise in boiling point for every 1 lb. of pressure). I wouldn't immediately shut it off just because the gauge hit 240; I would try to get moving at least 35 mph without putting a heavy load on the engine. Try to get some air flowing through the radiator to cool it down a bit. If you are seeing 240 degrees all the time, you have cooling system problems.
Archivist: Tom Wilson
[ Top Of Page | Archive | Team Chevelle ]