Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Hi, I suspect that the engine of my 1936 One-Twenty is not warm enough. The thermostat opens at about 160 ? F. Here I add a photo. This is the temperature display for a longer ride.
greetings
Gerd

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Either your dash gauge is reading incorrectly or the thermostat is not opening at the point you think it is. Put a thermometer in the top tank to see what the water temp really is.

I always install an accurate modern gauge, run the car for a few months to understand the temperature ranges, cold weather, hot weather, traffic, high speed, etc., Then, and only then, do I rely on the factory gauge, and correlate known temperature running ranges to what is indicated on the factory gauge.

What did you decide about overdrive?

WOW, this is unusual, most people complain about running too HOT, now this. What is the Temperature in Germany now?
Wes

We have a very eventful summer this year. But currently about 70 ? F.
I will install a thermometer for oil temperature. Seeking currently an oil-dipstick thermometer.
@ Flackmaster: I probably get a R9 overdrive in autumn.
Gerd

Engine oil temp gauge might be useful in a high performance/racing engine, but certainly in a low speed, low horsepower engine used for casual driving. And in any engine that is running cool, never.

HI
I am new to the Packard world but I might have some research that might be of help:
Had a problem with my 36 120 burping out coolant after you shut it off. People here said I should replace the thermostat. Got a new thermostat. The one I pulled out was 180 degrees, the one that was going in was 160 degrees. My ford buddy said that the 160 was standard in the 1930"s. When they were using alcohol as antifreeze, the temperature was kept to 160 degrees, at 180 it would evaporate all the alcohol off and you would have to keep adding alcohol to keep the coolant from freezing. Point is, that seems like good temp and I am going to go with in mine
Hope that helps
Will

Your buddy is right about 160? F. stats when using methanol (alcohol) antifreeze.

But is running permanent type anti-freeze 180 degree thermostat is the one to use. The engine runs more efficiently at 180 and 180 is a long way from 225+ the boiling point of water/antifreeze mix.

A 180 thermostat will not cause an engine to have hot spots and boil after it is shut off, usually poor flow in some spots caused by rust sediment is the culprit.

Only put 20 miles on it, but I can not tell the difference between the 180 and the 160. It might get better fuel mileage with the 180, but at 2,000 miles a year, it is not a factor.
I have had better luck with performance, with guy that set my distributer up on a machine. He made sure that it was perfect, and the advance was perfect. It purs like a kitten and with the overdrive runs the parkway at 65 with no effort
All the Luck with yours
W