What is the optimal running temp for our motor

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by phoenix64:
Anyway correct me if I'm wrong, but detonation is an explosion, but normal combustion is more of a controlled burn.<hr></blockquote>

Yep. Detonation can be a.) too soon, and b.) too sudden. Pre-ignition is too soon. Too soon mostly just creates excessive cylinder pressure. The too sudden is the part that kills piston tops and ring lands (and is not too keen on rods either).

The controlled burn has a flame front and all that... It's still more like the kick from a shotgun than the effect of a cutting torch. And detonation is more like a hammer blow.

[MrCoffee]

I hate to add more confusion to this thread, but I feel its my duty to add my personal experience and input [img]smile.gif[/img]

I am dusing Dee's TB spacer, 160 tstat and fast toys ram air intake. Did all those mods at different times, and have experienced gains with each one. And I'm in northern VA, its quite cold, todays high is like 50... there's still snow on the ground from like a week ago.

Also, when I went to get my car dynoed, the dyno operator ran my car one time like normal. waited like 10min while he processed the info, then ran again. After that run, he used the giant fans to cool the engine for about 10min. Needless to say my last run was the best, and infact he commented with words I'll never forget "well you're engine likes to be cooled down thats for sure. Numbers like like on a cold mustang would HAVE to be comming from a v8. I'm never seen a v6 stang produce those high numbers N/A" See this place was a mustang tuning shop, but dyno was is open to anyone.

So, the way I see it, a colder engine is better. However, i do understand what you all are saying about making it so hot, its right about to start detonating, but from my experiences, a colder engine is better.

[Only4U]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MoreThanAV6:
Lower temps make more power, cause more engine wear and worse gas millage.<hr></blockquote>

lower temps make more power, yes, but it isn't power that is unecessary or inappropriate for the engine. if that were the case, our engines wouldn't be capable of making that extra power. and the difference in power between 195 degrees and 165 degrees, is quite minimal; therefore, it's ignorant to say that there is more engine wear.

worse gas mileage? yes, that's true. engine's run richer at lower temps; thus, more fuel. once again, the 30 degree difference doesn't do much.

i was getting a consistent 19/28 mpg in my car stock. when i modded and went with 3.42s, 160 thermo, and 3600 stall, i dropped to a mere 17/27, and i can floor it all day or i can drive it conservatively, doesn't matter how i drive it--same results.

i think the converter and gears had a bigger impact on mpg than the thermo for sure, so i really don't think thermo temp hurts engines or makes mpg worse itself.

[ December 22, 2002: Message edited by: Only4U ]</p>

[Camarorulz]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cruzin:
What do you think a/an explosion is? It is heat. more heat more explosion more power.<hr></blockquote>

True, an explosion produces heat, but you're not listening to what John D said: colder air temperatures allow more fuel to be injected into the cylinders. More fuel= more power. The goal is to not get the engine at a really cold temp or a really high temp, but rather to get the engine running at an OPTIMAL temperature that produces the most power.

[MrCoffee]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>The goal is to not get the engine at a really cold temp or a really high temp, but rather to get the engine running at an OPTIMAL temperature that produces the most power.
<hr></blockquote>

yea, thats what the topic is :/

Topic: What is the optimal running temp for our motor

[Cruzin]

I give up. No one will see the other way so...
Whatever you believe is fine with me.
Sorry i got us off topic.

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MrCoffee:
yea, thats what the topic is :/

Topic: What is the optimal running temp for our motor<hr></blockquote>

Right... Probably between 160 and 170. Since 160 is right around the cutoff for open loop vs. closed loop, at or above 160 at least. Also 160 can cause problems with later model year pcm's.

I'm getting about the same mileage and a little better performance with a 180 vs a 195. Would love to find a 170 somewhere. I know it got slower and slower at the strip as it got hotter (up around 200-210 I lost .2 - .3).

It's the interaction of several things on our cars. The mechanical parts of the engine, as well as the pcm doing things to timing, and the amount (density) of air getting into the cylinders.

[Dominic]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by John_D.:


Also 160 can cause problems with later model year pcm's. <hr></blockquote>

Yes, but I have the solution for this little snag [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Camarorulz]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Yes, but I have the solution for this little snag <hr></blockquote>

Hypertech power programmer?

[Red2K1]

Volumetric Efficiency! Air Flow & The Internal Combustion Engine

[Dominic]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Camarorulz:


Hypertech power programmer?<hr></blockquote>

Nope its an 18K 1/2W resistor in the IAT sensor. I've been sellin em for cheap to board members, guess you never saw the post in gen tech eh?