Running Hott

[emjlr3]

maybe its just from the summer heat, which isnt that great since I live in MD, but my car seems to running way to hot.

one thing i heard is that a hot engine destroys power in a 3.8l v6 and I need all I can get.

usually cruising im around 205, just under the 210 line....and if im stopped in traffic ill be at about a little over the 210 line.

i have a 2000 so I believe I should have a stock 180 thermo...so shouldn't I be running at 180??

thanx for the help

[saved1]

210 is the normal operating temp.

[BLLDOGG]

you should be fine. running alittle over 210 in traffic on a hot day isnt a suprise. now depending on how much a little over the line is to you, if it reaches 220 or more, you need to change your coolant and think about a thermo. and the obvious, if it gets hot like that or hotter, you need to pull over on the side of the road and let the engine cool for a little while.

[Pastor Larry Roques]

Si...senor....Here in Southeast Louisiana, heat and humidity are the standards this time of year. I get a little freaked when I begin to see my temp guage start headin' for the 210 line. If I'm stopped in crosstown traffic...that's almost a certainty. But the minute I get the airflow back to the engine...she cools right down. Like our friends above say...if its gettin' too high, it might be time to drain, flush, change thermostat, and refill. (I went to green last time...best move I ever made) Last of all..step outside and look into that beautiful Maryland sky and thank Our Precious Lord that you are not down here in New Orleans where everything either drips or fries......blessings, and have a wonderful day! [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img]

[speedy-v6-camaro]

I hate it when my temps get even near the 210 line....I can usually drive for 20 minutes on a 100 degree day and be a tad over 160. I flushed my radiator because I don't like it...seemed to fix the problem I had of it being at about 210 after a minute of sitting.

[BLLDOGG]

if you dont like it being so high, couldnt you pretty much do an all water mix? like 90% or something. that would help cool it down in the summer and change it come fall/winter back to a more winter friendly mix.

[emjlr3]

hrmmmm yea maybe ill change all of my coolant....also how can I tell if my thermo is going up??

so what is the deal...should I be driving at 210....or 180....there seems to be mixed ideas.

[speedy-v6-camaro]

Try some redline water wetter or some of the royal purple stuff. Supposedly they lower temps by upto 20 degrees.

[Xian]

For what it's worth, once warmed up, mine stays rock solid at 180. That's throughout a 40-mile commute, though it's all back roads so not much stop-and-go.

We haven't had much in the way of real heat in my part of MD in weeks, so if this is a change from the temp.s she's been showing, I would definitely flush and fill, and if that didn't do the trick, maybe replace the thermostat. Both are cheap and easy enough to do.

[SilverFire]

now let me ask you guys with the 160 degree thermo if your constintly driving, not stop and go will your gauge move at all?

[BirdMan8507]

my engine always gets to 210 and stays there...how can some of u guys run a solid 180 or 205? Also, i installed a 160* thermo a few weeks ago and it must have stuck shut or something, my engine temp gauge wasnt working and the engine fans were blasting, i popped the hood and the engine seemed really hot, so i changed the thermostat back....so basically i wont be getting a new thermostat to run cooler

[emjlr3]

ill try all of the above thanx for the help guys

[speedy-v6-camaro]

Originally posted by BirdMan8507:
my engine always gets to 210 and stays there...how can some of u guys run a solid 180 or 205? Also, i installed a 160* thermo a few weeks ago and it must have stuck shut or something, my engine temp gauge wasnt working and the engine fans were blasting, i popped the hood and the engine seemed really hot, so i changed the thermostat back....so basically i wont be getting a new thermostat to run cooler

Did you put it in backwards?

Originally posted by SilverFire:
now let me ask you guys with the 160 degree thermo if your constintly driving, not stop and go will your gauge move at all?

Mine runs just above 160 during constant driving.

[BirdMan8507]

nope, didnt put the thermo in backwards

[snatch]

Can a hot running tranny increase the heat going through the radiator causing the gauge to read higher?
Shane