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water temp question #2520835
07/12/18 12:51 AM
07/12/18 12:51 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 314
Medina, OH
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dart440_72 Offline OP
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Medina, OH
Seeing a lot of cooling questions lately since we have having hotter weather throughout the country. My question is what water temp do you feel comfortable with driving your car? When do you start getting nervous and shut it down?


72 Dart 500" low deck Indy SR heads. 10.40 @129 best so far
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2520863
07/12/18 01:54 AM
07/12/18 01:54 AM
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Lincoln Nebraska
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RapidRobert Offline
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Lincoln Nebraska
I'd want no less than 180/185, not sure on an upper limit but here is a BTT for ya.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2520865
07/12/18 01:57 AM
07/12/18 01:57 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
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StealthWedge67 Offline
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Puyallup, WA
I start mitigating the situation if it gets much over 200, which my car rarely does. I’d pull over and shut it down once I feel it running differently than normal. Not sure where that would be, but probably around 225.


LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2520896
07/12/18 05:05 AM
07/12/18 05:05 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Bend,OR USA
I get worried on my old pump gas street muscle cars over 230 F with anti freeze and a 14 Lb. pressure cap.
I have seen 240 F on my S/P bracket car on the return road this summer, it does not have a radiator either so keep that in mind, it runs on E85 and has two very small oil coolers with a electric water pump to circulate the coolant for the cooling system, it was that way when I got it realcrazy
You need to know that a lot of after market water temps gauges aren't real accurate, I use a infra red temp gun to verify all the ones I use now after finding out that one of my old high dollar Autometer mechanical race water temp gauge was off 40 F when warmed up runaway It would read 140 F and the coolant circulating in the radiator was actually under 100 F down

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 07/12/18 05:08 AM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2520938
07/12/18 10:38 AM
07/12/18 10:38 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Online content
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an8sec70cuda  Online Content
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Marion, South Carolina [><]
I start looking to cool it down if it gets 230°+.
210° on the highway running 3500+ rpm isn't uncommon for my car. It cools down the slower I go usually, unless I'm stuck in stop and go for a while. Probably needs more water pump, but the $600 one from Meziere is my only option now.
Have a BIG radiator and a fan that moves a LOT of air on it.

I got it up to 255° one time when I first put the hemi in the car...didn't hurt a thing.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2520946
07/12/18 10:50 AM
07/12/18 10:50 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 314
Medina, OH
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dart440_72 Offline OP
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Medina, OH
Thanks for all the updates. Mine was getting up to 210 and I would shut it down. I got really nervous when I saw it. I guess I'm not used to it with this car. It's always run hot and that's why I limit the street driving. I'll have to monitor it more closely.


72 Dart 500" low deck Indy SR heads. 10.40 @129 best so far
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2520957
07/12/18 11:22 AM
07/12/18 11:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
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Bad340fish  Offline
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Tulsa OK
220-230 is the critcal point for me but it is seldom a problem.

On the track I try to hit the burnout box at 135-140. Thats an easy temp for me to get hit consistently.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2521093
07/12/18 04:21 PM
07/12/18 04:21 PM
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Posts: 4,457
Washington
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madscientist Offline
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Washington
Anything over 200 tells me you have a cooling issue or a mechanical problem. I prefer 180-185 for pump gas performance stuff because it helps with detonation.

These aren't emissions controlled junk. Keep the temp down below 200.


Just because you think it won't make it true. Horsepower is KING. To dispute this is stupid. C. Alston
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2521133
07/12/18 06:26 PM
07/12/18 06:26 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
polyspheric Offline
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New York
Careful A>B testing may show you a point where you have knock entirely due to water temp. Sometimes it's easier to upgrade the cooling system than re-tune the engine.


Boffin Emeritus
Re: water temp question [Re: dart440_72] #2521179
07/12/18 08:20 PM
07/12/18 08:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,393
Ambridge, Pa.
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rickraw Offline
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Ambridge, Pa.
I would get some evaporust. Follow the directions. A rusted block will hurt heat transfer. My rad was pretty brown inside, used evaporust, block & rad looks like brand new. I use a 180 stat, 50/50 extended life antifreeze, flexalite plastic fan with full shroud. The hemi runs about 181 on a 93* day, never goes over 190 sitting in traffic.







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