My car has a really inconsistent water temp.

Cruising along at night 150 degrees.
Stop lights it goes up 170-180, then when I get moving it goes back down

ON the highway durning the daytime on a warm day 160 degrees. But as soon as I slow down it goes up 180-190.

Around town during the day its the same as the highway, but it gets up to 200 once in a while.

Too me it seems too cold while cruising. But then it warms up at the lights a bit.

Right now I have a ALuminum radiator, Aluminum head SB w/ 180 stat. Electric fan that I only turn on when it hits 190.


[This message has been edited by David Nafarrete (edited 02-20-2000).]

Thermodynamics. Heat transfer.

The colder the air flowing over your radiator the more heat transfered from the water to the radiator to the air. The more air (increased speed, bigger fan, faster fan, better fan, less bugs, etc.) the more heat transfered. Aluminum heads--efficient heat conductors.

It seems like the thermostat should do a better job of regulating your engine's temperature. Maybe you should check that the thermostat is good and is installed correctly, or just stick a new one in.

I'd rather see my engine run 195 all the time than 160--need to get the oil temp up enough to boil off water and other bad stuff byproducts of combustion.

My $0.02