Engine Temp?

Posted by gone1951 On 2009/8/27 16:37:23

I have read many postings and listened to many people talk about their engine temp staying around 190 degrees in all conditions. To me this seems wrong. The thermostat is there to keep the water from circulating thru the radiator until the engine warms up past the thermostats rated temp. At the 190 degree temp it is full open. The water temp must rise above 212 or there would be no need for a pressure cap. The fact that there is pressure in the system indicates that the temp is above 212 degrees. How are these guys measuring the engine temp? Most factory gauges only show cold to hot. Not the actual temp. I have a mechanical temp gauge on my 250 ci. chevy van that reads higher than 240 degrees under normal freeway driving and higher than that on hot days. The system does not boil over and I do not ever have to add water. This is the second gauge I have had on this engine with the same readings.

Just can't believe that any engine will run no hotter than the rating of the thermostat.

Another interesting statement more people than I can count have said is that the engine will run cooler if you replace your 190 degree thermostat with a 180 degree one. This is just not true.

Is there something about 30's and 40's cooling systems that is different than say the ones in the 50's? Are they all unpressurized? I know my 31 ford was not a pressure system.