Really cold down there

[strat1960s]

Hey Ya'll

I have a wierd problem. My cooling system is working too well!
I have a 180 degree thermostat and the hot running temp will not go about the upper 170's. I am running a mixture of 70/20/10 (Coolant/water/water wetter) The water wetter is supposed to keep temps down and keep the seals lubicated. I think it is working too well. I have an air pocket in my heater and I can't get it out till I can move the coolant around in the motor.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Ted

 

[Anonymous]

wish I had that problem..mine still runs hot...if it won't warm up standing still you could put some cardboard in front of the rad and take it for a spin.

 

[strat1960s]

Yeh, I've heard of people doing that up north. I'll look into doing that next weekend.
Thanks
Ted

 

[Junk-Falcon]

ppp

 

[MustangSix]

The heater bypasses the thermostat and and the rest of the cooling system. It should purge even if the thremostat is closed. If you are running too cool, one of two things could be happening.

First, and most likely, your thermostat is not operating properly. It is opening too soon or not closing completely. That would be the first thing I'd change, even if you recently put one in. Engine heat has to go somewhere and if it's not being retained in the engine, it has to be going out the tailpipe or the radiator.

Second, (and it has to be pretty cold for this to happen), is that your heater core is providing enough cooling for the engine. I had this happen on my wife's Escort when we lived in Iowa. In -20F weather, the engine would never get to operating temperature because the heater core was doing enough cooling at that temperature even with the thermostat completly closed. On that car and in early Mustanng/Falcons, the heater draws all its air from the outside. No recirc was available in heating mode like it was with the AC. The heater core is unregulated, so at extreme temps it would provide too much engine cooling. But when it gets that cold, you should just stay inside and wait for spring.....

 

[FastRonald]

8) The use of a piece of cardborard is a very common pratice in the Chicago area each winter.

 

[Hot 6t Falcon]

Ted,

This is why they orginally put potato chips in boxes. Falcons needed the boxes in front of the radiator anytime the heater needed to be used so the driver wouldn't turn into a purple popsickle - or is that popsick-o.

The heater core is just another radiator, only it blows heat inside of your car. It cools the engine without the thermostat opening, hence the heat guage shows cold.

Thermostats don't just pop open at 180 degrees. They start opening at a lower temp and are wide open by 180. That why northerners use 195 degree thermostats in the winter and then change to 165 in the summer.

PS I drive my Ranchero daily - even in the winter. So far the coldest it's been this winter is only -17 ... and that's not any silly windchill temp. NoDaks don't believe in windchill. The 'Chero doesn't have any block heater or any of that stuff either, but I did have to pump the gas pedal a couple of extra shots. It fired right up, and my and my Falcon and my potato chip box went to get the groceries.

Good Luck

 

[Anonymous]

I just recently put in a 195 stat & I too have a hunk o' cardboard in front of the radiator. I prefer a FedEx box myself, purely for aesthetic reasons.

If you think you have an air pocket, have you tried running it up to running temp with the radiator cap off? lets the system burp out some air. someone suggested that for my problems a month ago and it helped do the trick.

t

 

[mugsy]

When I bought my "go to work" car a couple years ago it had the same problem; no heat out of the heater. So I pulled the T-stat. I found that the plunger was about 1/16" out from the main body when cold. It was enough space to let the coolant flow threw into the radiator and the darn thing never did get warm. So I put in another and she was nice and toasty after that

The other thing to look at is the supply and return hose to the heater core. All liquid heat exchangers like to be feed from the bottom. This helps to purge the air. Air is a good insulator and you want it out of the heater core.

Mugsy

 

[strat1960s]

Folks,

Thank you for you replys. Dennis, I am looking for a box of potato chips, LOL. The card board trick worked, the coolant could be seen flowing happily past the radiator cap opening, and after running for about 30 minutes I felt warm air blowing down below. I am not too sure about crusing around Phoenix Arizona with a chunk of cardboard covering my radiator, but I'll give it a shot.
Thanks again.

Ted

 

[MustangSix]

Glad you have heat. Now go change that thermostat!

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

I had the same prob today on my way home from school...about 20 degrees out but I have a monster sized AL 3 row and at 70 mph it won't get over 160F. that with bad door seals bad for one cold 150 mile trip (gotta love the 20mph crosswinds with a 250 in the trunk)

nick

 

[MustangSix]

Radiator size shouldn't matter. Even if you are sucking ice cold water from the Arctic ocean, if the t-stat is working, water will not flow and the engine should warm up, except for the aforementioned heater core overcooling issue.

 

[Anonymous]

By the way, I personally don't recommend the cardboard trick for highway use.... I keep mine strictly for in-town use. She'll heat up fine on the fast roads....