Re: Temperature gauge fluctuations on 34 1103 super 8

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/5/19 14:34:51

Terry, I don't know the recent history of your engine but here's a few more things to consider. First, from the day the car leaves the showroom floor the cooling system begins a slow and progressive deterioration. It may take tens of thousands of miles to notice, and maybe you'll never notice it until an engine rebuild because as the rings and cylinder walls wear to a mating pattern, rings gradually loose a bit of tension, and clearances in general begin to open, your engine is creating less heat and thus the cooling system no longer has to be as competent to deal with it. But as soon as engine work like rings, bearings etc. is done, you increase the amount of heat that the cooling system has to cope with and at that point it's gradual deterioration may become noticeable.

Another point - has the radiator been repainted? Some folks like gobs of glossy black paint on their radiator which just acts like an insulator and inhibits good heat transfer. Radiators should be painted only with low-solids paints specifically for that purpose.

Another point to consider - after 70+ years its not uncommon to find very considerable erosion and wear on the water pump impellor so that it no longer is capable of moving the volume of water.