This is topic Foxbody normal operating temp question in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 
What should the normal operating temperature of a foxbody be?
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
180 deg. depending on the year

i like to run 160 deg.
 
Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
180 deg. depending on the year

i like to run 160 deg.
your car runs at 180 degrees on a 85 degree day? or are you talkin about the thermostat?
 
Posted by 85notch5.0 (Member # 9804) on :
 
Doesnt matter how hot it is outside. The normal operating temp is about 180.
 
Posted by RODRIGUEZ (Member # 9104) on :
 
How are you guys testing the temp?
 
Posted by Adam5.0 (Member # 6995) on :
 
about 200 degrees
 
Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 
My autometer gauge is reading around 210 degrees. i have an 180 thermostat. is that high?
 
Posted by 85notch5.0 (Member # 9804) on :
 
Just a little bit. Lol. How old is the waterpump and thermostat? You could try a radiator flush..could be a bad sensor.
 
Posted by Adam5.0 (Member # 6995) on :
 
my motor would stay at about 200-210. has 180 t stat, edlebrock w.p., 3 core rad and dual electric fans. I would say your fine.
 
Posted by 50Reasons (Member # 6452) on :
 
little high but that should be top opperating temp
 
Posted by Blind (Member # 3052) on :
 
operating temp is your thermostat temp unless something is wrong with your cooling system.

I run a stock temp 195* thermostat and once it warms up to that temp (takes a long time) it holds at 196* no matter how hard I beat on the car even when auto-x'ing and doing hot laps.
 
Posted by sic70stang (Member # 4347) on :
 
Blind is correct... man why do people chime in on something when they clearly don't know the answer.
 
Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 
well,i just changed the thermostat and it does the same thing. I have an electric fan on it too. What else should I check?
 
Posted by sic70stang (Member # 4347) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
180 deg. depending on the year

i like to run 160 deg.
Wrong

quote:
Originally posted by 85notch5.0:
Doesnt matter how hot it is outside. The normal operating temp is about 180.
Wrong
 
Posted by CaliCoupe (Member # 9353) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
180 deg. depending on the year

i like to run 160 deg.
Wrong

quote:
Originally posted by 85notch5.0:
Doesnt matter how hot it is outside. The normal operating temp is about 180.
Wrong
WOW, what a DICK HEAD. LOL
 
Posted by Adam5.0 (Member # 6995) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
Blind is correct... man why do people chime in on something when they clearly don't know the answer.
heat transfer takes time. once your t stat fully at 195 then i gets a chance to cool down. in auto cross running laps you are always moving. but for a street car in stop and go traffic you have less air flow.
so... WRONG
 
Posted by CobraCoupe (Member # 7233) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Blind:
operating temp is your thermostat temp unless something is wrong with your cooling system.

I run a stock temp 195* thermostat and once it warms up to that temp (takes a long time) it holds at 196* no matter how hard I beat on the car even when auto-x'ing and doing hot laps.
+1 I run a 195 t-stat and with a 3row and it never gets above 200, even when runnin the dog shit out of its still under 195
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
i know stock normal running temp is 195
but i never run a 195 in my cars just to hot
93 i know for sure gotta run 195 for computer reasons

i like my cars to run a lil cold just makes me feel better i cant stand temps being even close to 195 it bugs me to hot for these lil motors jus makes me able to drive anywhere and not worry about overheating
but everybody thinks different bout there cars for me the colder the better
 
Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 
Alright, I'm confused if it's runnin too hot or not lol! I think i will just replace the temp sending unit. and get the radiator tested to see if it is clogged
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
if your temp is at 195 some would say its ok
if it passes 210 mite be to high
make sure you bleed the system of any air
also check that your fan is working properly
what about the water pump?
 
Posted by SF Coupe (Member # 1810) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Adam5.0:
quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
Blind is correct... man why do people chime in on something when they clearly don't know the answer.
heat transfer takes time. once your t stat fully at 195 then i gets a chance to cool down. in auto cross running laps you are always moving. but for a street car in stop and go traffic you have less air flow.
so... WRONG
This is a totally incoherent post. What are you trying to say.

Ford spent millions of dollars developing the 5.0 motor with a 195* t-stat. That is the normal operating temp. If your car can't hold that temp except under the most severe punishment then something is wrong with the cooling system.

"195 bugs me, too hot for these lil motors" classic cafords idiocy.
 
Posted by sydewayzLX50 (Member # 10217) on :
 
195 is fine anyway because youre supposed to run a 50/50 mix of water/coolant which raises the boiling point to somewhere around 250 give or take a few. so if youre coolant mix is good, 195 is fine you have some wiggle room.
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
I see this question pop up on every Mustang forum I'm on and always see the same answers. Not sure when people thought 210° was too hot, but whatever.

The SBF used in the Mustang has used a 195° thermostat as OEM since 1965. According to my 1968 factory Ford repair manual, 195° is the temp at which the thermostat BEGINS to open. It doesn't fully open until 200°-205° degrees.

[ September 02, 2010, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: wilit ]
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by wilit:
I see this question pop up on every Mustang forum I'm on and always see the same answers. Not sure when people thought 210° was too hot, but whatever.

The SBF used in the Mustang has used a 195° thermostat as OEM since 1965. According to my 1968 factory Ford repair manual, 195° is the temp at which the thermostat BEGINS to open. It doesn't fully open until 200°-205° degrees.
^^^^ this is correct
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
i guess everybody has there own opinion
about there cooling system. so who is wrong and who is right. mr. smart guys
i will never run a 195 on my cars.
i like it cold i hate a hot running car makes me worry
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
i guess everybody has there own opinion
about there cooling system. so who is wrong and who is right. mr. smart guys
i will never run a 195 on my cars.
i like it cold i hate a hot running car makes me worry
cold car that never warm's up run's rich

[ September 02, 2010, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: fasthatch ]
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
thats wat tunes are for to adjust
air fuel mixtures and fine tune averything else
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
thats wat tunes are for to adjust
air fuel mixtures and fine tune averything else
if the pcm never see the engine get warm it will stay in open loop an how do you tune for that
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
computer tunes itself
start the car with the new thermo. let it start on its own dont rev and let it open on its own computer will read all of that
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
computer tunes itself
start the car with the new thermo. let it start on its own dont rev and let it open on its own computer will read all of that
haaaaaaaaaaaaa thats funny
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
i guess everybody has there own opinion
about there cooling system. so who is wrong and who is right. mr. smart guys
Who is right? Probably the engineers who have degrees in engineering and designed the engine to run with a 195° thermostat is my guess.
 
Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 
Now im really confused! lol
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by East Bay 50:
Now im really confused! lol
your car is running normal if you would like the temp brought down alittle try 40 below i use to run it in my blower car with a stock rad an never over heated with it
 
Posted by SF Coupe (Member # 1810) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 73 on DUBS:
computer tunes itself
start the car with the new thermo. let it start on its own dont rev and let it open on its own computer will read all of that
Wow, you have no concept of even the basic operation of the EEC.
 
Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:
quote:
Originally posted by East Bay 50:
Now im really confused! lol
your car is running normal if you would like the temp brought down alittle try 40 below i use to run it in my blower car with a stock rad an never over heated with it
Where do you buy that at? i have never heard of it
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
ok smart guys!!!!!
all caford guys are really smart hahahaha !!!!!
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by East Bay 50:
quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:
quote:
Originally posted by East Bay 50:
Now im really confused! lol
your car is running normal if you would like the temp brought down alittle try 40 below i use to run it in my blower car with a stock rad an never over heated with it
Where do you buy that at? i have never heard of it
morgans in walnut creek of parkside
 
Posted by BCINGUU (Member # 2397) on :
 
Here are some facts:

Fox motors are designed to run hotter because it reduces emissions, but it subtracts power and puts you closer to the danger zone if your engine overheats

180 is considered a good temp for a 5.0 motor, it's hot enough to run well but cool enough to reduce engine wear

160 is too low. The EEC-IV computer will keep your motor in open loop which means you will lose power and waste fuel

Too hot is bad, so is too cool. You should choose 180 for better performance or 195 if you want to keep it stock and reduce emissions.
 
Posted by 73 on DUBS (Member # 5677) on :
 
^^^ thats wat im talkin bout thanks bro
to hot aint good blow your head gaskets away
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by BCINGUU:
Here are some facts:

Fox motors are designed to run hotter because it reduces emissions, but it subtracts power and puts you closer to the danger zone if your engine overheats

180 is considered a good temp for a 5.0 motor, it's hot enough to run well but cool enough to reduce engine wear

160 is too low. The EEC-IV computer will keep your motor in open loop which means you will lose power and waste fuel

Too hot is bad, so is too cool. You should choose 180 for better performance or 195 if you want to keep it stock and reduce emissions.
This is exactly what I was going to post but figured I'd get flamed. Most new cars run at 210° normally to reduce wear and emissions.
 




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