Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Just curious, how long should you be able to idle a warmed-up car before you have overheating problems? The V8's specifically. Assume a room temperature day.

Until you run out of gas.

I have always followed the rule that warm up is best done underway at low speed.

I'd avoid idling for more than ten minutes. Much less is better, especially when running an air conditioner. Always park facing the breeze, if you can.
Anything that diminishes cooling system function will contribute to overheating, as will problems with timing and excessively low oil pressure. Radiators can look clean and still have a lot of lint-like seed debris, dust, and insect debris lodged in the core. Clutch fans must operate properly, and all shrouds must be in place for best results. Pulleys should be the correct ones to assure that accessories run at the proper speed.

I don't know about the V8's, but I think my 327 could idle all day and not overheat. If you're having serious overheating issues I would double check your timing and your cooling system.

Agreed.

I will say that adding an Aux transcooler to my car has changed the transmission for the better. It no longer is overheating from slipping and as such transmitting that heat to the coolant.

Also, I haven't lost any trans fluid since and that is over 500 miles of driving.

Was just wondering as I was driving my friend's Edsel to a car cruise yesterday in bumper to bumper traffic and it seemed pretty much everyone was overheating after 20-30 mins regardless of the type of car, mileage, restoration level, etc.

I may have the "opportunity" to test this in my 400 if I get a late start next year.

Over heating is all relative when using a factory gauge as a reference point. Without actual numbers it is hard to quantify what "over heating" actually is in one of these older cars. I have a 68 dodge dart with a straight fan that I drive regularly in Pittsburgh traffic. On very hot and humid days in July I can get stuck in standstill rush hour traffic and witness the temp gauge start to move up. it never goes outside of the "safety zone" on the factory gauge or get as high as when I shut the car off and let it sit for 5 minutes and then turn the ignition on to see the gauge go to the top end of the "safety zone", but as soon as I get moving again for about a mile or so the gauge drops back to where it normally sits.

We as drivers have gotten very use to gauges not moving at all that we think there is a problem once we see any movement of a gauge. These older vehicles tend to have more active gauges depending upon temperature and driving conditions. This is true for cars that dont have electric or clutch style fans, which these V8 packards do not have.

Thanks. By "overheating" I mean having mechanical problems (coolant overflowing, engine stumbling at idle, etc.) not just the gauge creeping up.

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My 2005 Tundra's temp gauge will sit right at the normal mark from 184 degrees all the way up to 220 degrees. At 221 the needle starts to move up again and moves rapidly from 221-226. I believe most modern vehicles are this way. The engine can operate in a wide temperature band that is considered to be safe, and the gauge reflects that by staying completely static. Go outside that range and it lets you know.

I've never actually overheated in my Panama, but I don't like to see the needle moving up. Probably because I've been conditioned since young that it is a bad thing. When the gauge is reading hot the measured temp on the engine has been, at the highest, 195-205. Not the end of the world as far as I know.