Posted By |
Discussion Topic:
Reasons that Flat heads run a lttle hot
-- page:
1
2
|
|
sarahcecelia |
04-30-2021 @ 6:10 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
|
The reasons that flat heads run a little hot, are two fold-First is Poor design- the exhaust ports on the block for cylinder #'s 2 and 3 and 6 and 7 are side by side, and second is people want to use 180 degree thermostats. Ford recommended 160 degree thermostats for all flat heads to compensate for the design "error!" Regards, Steve Lee
This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 4-30-21 @ 6:12 AM
|
51woodie |
04-30-2021 @ 7:37 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 523
Joined: Jan 2017
|
Interesting. When I got my stock 46 Coupe, it had 160s in it. One was in place and the other was cocked in the hose. I installed new 160s, and the engine ran at 160. Too cold in my mind. I changed to 180s, and it runs at 180. Might creep up to 185 in stop and go traffic.
|
TomO |
04-30-2021 @ 8:57 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 7264
Joined: Oct 2009
|
Thermostats have little effect on overheating. From the 1953 Mercury Shop Manual: "The purpose of the thermostat is to control the minimum temperature the the engine will run at". 160 thermostats were specified for alcohol based antifreeze, which was still very common until after 1953. 180 thermostats were specified for "permanent" anti freeze (glycol based coolant).
Tom
|
MG |
04-30-2021 @ 10:57 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1262
Joined: Nov 2009
|
Tom, please expound on this - alcohol based antifreeze vs. "permanent" anti freeze (glycol based coolant). Why the different operating temperatures between these two? BTW - I use 160 degree thermostats using plain water. The car runs all day at 160 but I'm contemplating installing 180's.
This message was edited by MG on 4-30-21 @ 11:53 AM
|
TomO |
04-30-2021 @ 12:22 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 7264
Joined: Oct 2009
|
Alcohol antifreeze has a lower boiling point, about 170F, than glycol based anti freeze, more than 300F. Tom
This message was edited by TomO on 5-1-21 @ 8:06 AM
|
sarahcecelia |
04-30-2021 @ 6:18 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
|
I think that's a little backward. It is a proven fact that Ethaline Glycol will hold heat; Example: if you run straight Ethaline Glycol in a cooling system "your engine will overheat!' Many fools 'back in the day" did just that and OVERHEATED!! That's why the companys like Prestone now offer 50/50; (it's for the "Dummies.") The alternative was Alchohol antifreeze which was cheaper, but you had to dump it after the cold weather was over, because by the next winter it had boiled out through evaporation. Regards, Steve Lee
This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 8-18-21 @ 2:33 PM
|
sarahcecelia |
04-30-2021 @ 6:26 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
|
51 Woodie-Your smarter than Ford motor Company?? I hardly think so! They said, "160 DEGREE THERMOSTATS IN ALL FLATHEADS!" That's when they are FULLY OPEN; 160 degrees. They would start to open at about 156 degrees., and when the motor got fully warmed up it would be near 180 degrees. Regards, Steve Lee
This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 4-30-21 @ 6:47 PM
|
sarahcecelia |
04-30-2021 @ 6:30 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
|
Tom, I was 16 in 1953, and already fooling around with, and learning the mechanics of cars. Alchohol and Ethaline Glycol were both sold at that time!I used Alchohol because I was short of "Do Re Me" and it was cheaper. Regards, Steve Lee
This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 8-18-21 @ 2:34 PM
|
sarahcecelia |
04-30-2021 @ 6:32 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
|
Your gauges are wrong! I have 160's in my Cretliner V8, with 160's, and when warmed up it runs 178-181 degrees!
Regards, Steve Lee
|
sarahcecelia |
04-30-2021 @ 6:40 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
|
That's right! Because once they are full open they stay open until you shut the motor down. But when they are fully open and the motor keeps running, the temperature will continually rise until it reaches full operating temperature, of about 180.
Regards, Steve Lee
|