ok as you may kno i just reciently did a mild build to my car. GT40X aluminums, f303 and explorer intake. it seems like it runs a lot hotter now w/ the aluminums. is that normal? i know aluminum has different properties than the cast iron. my temp never went above half before, usually hung around the 2nd notch. now after curising on the highway (70mph) for a while it will go up to the notch above half way. but if i get off the highway it will cool down more and be about half.

my other question is should i run a lower thermostat? i have the 195* in now. should i go 180* or even 160*?

thanx guys

 

your radiator may be getting clogged. cause if you're on the freeway it should have alot of air movin over it... i got mine flushed in my old fox

 

get 180 t stat, is your electric/mechanical fan working properly? possibly clogged rad.


did you make sure you put yout head gaskets on the right way?

 

fan works just fine because it doesnt get very hot while just ideling. and im 100% positive the HGs are on the correct way. i made a point to check it several times lol.

as for the radiator. um im not sure i mean i had to take it off for the build obv and it drained and filled fine.

ill try running a 180 and see how that goes

 

did you burp the cooling system? is the rad cap old or new? spring may not be operating at 15psi

 

how bout the gauge or sending unit?

 

could be, referencing off the stocker is not a good thing to do. for all you know you could be overheating into the 250*+....

 

ya i burped it. i started it let it idle w/ the cap of let it get hot and squeezed the upper hose til i didnt see any bubbles. and the cap is tight and the spring feels stiff like it should.

 

lol ya i know referencing the stocker isnt good lol but i need to get some fittings for my autometer temp gauge. it just has the bulb on the end and i gotta figure out what fittings i need to get it to work. and all of the sensors and switches are new.

and i dont think it is necessarily overheating just running hotter than it used to

 

it should have came with a reducer fitting that will fit into the stock location and then the sending unit will thread into the reducer