2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
View Poll Results: Average coolant temp at waterpump/thermostat housing
160 degF
4
4.35%
170 degF
10
10.87%
180 degF
36
39.13%
190 degF
30
32.61%
200 degF
8
8.70%
Other (please post)
4
4.35%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

Average coolant temps

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Old 07-12-03 | 08:05 AM
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Average coolant temps

What are the average temperatures that you guys see at the thermostat housing/water pump, on an average day, at idle, fully warmed up? Post your results here.
Old 07-12-03 | 08:07 AM
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By the way, please only vote if you have an accurate measurement of coolant temperatures, such as an aftermarket gauge or an infrared thermometer.

And post your coolant mods if it's below 180 degF

Thanks!
-Ross
Old 07-12-03 | 11:10 AM
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Black magic fan set to turn on at 190

Howe dual pass radiator 29"x19"x3" inlet and outlet on pass side.

Regular coolant no water wetter

Temp gauge sender is in the thermostat housing.
Old 07-12-03 | 11:19 AM
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190-195

James
Old 07-12-03 | 11:52 AM
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I see a range from 180 to 200. uaually on the highway its at about 195degrees. I read somewhere that the stock thermostat fully opens at 194 degreef.

My cooling system is stock, with the heater core passage disabled.
Old 07-12-03 | 04:12 PM
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When I am closed thottle going down a hil it drops about 4-6 degrees. Kinda cool

James
Old 07-12-03 | 07:30 PM
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It's 98 degrees outside right now. I drove fifteen miles on interstate 20 without the a/c on and the temp was 195 degrees. Drove the ffifteen miles back on the same route with the a/c on. It was b/t 195 and 200 degrees.

I've driven the same route just a few weeks ago when the temp was in the upper 80's low 90's and the temp was if I remember right, about 185. Lots of variables to deal with. I, personnaly have no problem with my car running 195 to 200 degrees. Sounds right to me. I don't like cars that run in the 160-170 range. Somethings wrong with them.

This was with a recently bought Autometer electric gauge.

And the temp of the a/c air coming out of the vent was 42 degrees. Thank you Fluke 52II
Old 07-12-03 | 07:54 PM
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the thermostat opens at 82c, mine runs between 85-95c unless its really hot outside

mike
Old 07-13-03 | 04:49 AM
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185 after crusing down a hill. 190-200 while driving / idling.
Old 07-13-03 | 05:08 AM
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180-185, Fiero GT fan & 170 thermostat.
Old 07-13-03 | 08:22 AM
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Guess I should have posted my cooling mods...

Umm well i broke the capillary tube so right now the fan is wired through a relay to be on during ignition, black magic m150 fan. I get 180 degrees, never more. Although i've had the gauge in for like three days, so I'll let you know if it rises. I'm just waiting for my replacement thermostat to come in so that I can replace the damn thing and not have it run all the time
Old 07-13-03 | 09:49 AM
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80 degrees outside air temp this morning. Same drive as in the above post. Temps were approx 183 driving out and running about 185 coming back, except using the air conditioner coming back. A/C putting out 35 degree air this morning.

No modifications except for the turbo engine in the n/t body. Idles around 185 this morning. Closer to 190 yesterday when the outside air temp was 98 degrees.
Old 07-13-03 | 10:08 AM
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drive to work this morning -- 175 degrees the whole way +/- 3 degrees. 60 degF ambient temperature.
Old 07-13-03 | 11:04 AM
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I have a FMIC, Black Magic fan, and a Koyo Radiator.
My car runs right around 84 c when cruising around town.
When I get out on the freeway and start reving, it creeps up to about 92 c.
Close to 200 degrees.
Old 07-13-03 | 12:22 PM
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From: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
1.8 times C + 32 = F for those like me who forget how to convert. Seems like we have a number of cars that read normal.

That is interesting what Finger said. He has 60 degree temps to play around in. I'll have to get back to you in December when it gets cold like that in Texas.
Old 07-13-03 | 12:26 PM
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Originally posted by HAILERS
That is interesting what Finger said. He has 60 degree temps to play around in. I'll have to get back to you in December when it gets cold like that in Texas.
augh man i'd kill for that kind of wether in December up here.

where can i buy a thermo-gun or whatever its called? and whats a decent price on one?
Old 07-13-03 | 12:30 PM
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okay, i just put a after market water temp guage in the lower rad hose, what temp readings should i be getting?

I have my efan set to turn on to fast, but need to know some numbers before i adjust. The guage says it goes to 150 f sometimes 160, is that about right for the lower rad hose. The stock guage is so off it isn't even funny.
Old 07-13-03 | 01:46 PM
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Originally posted by wpgrexx
okay, i just put a after market water temp guage in the lower rad hose, what temp readings should i be getting?

I have my efan set to turn on to fast, but need to know some numbers before i adjust. The guage says it goes to 150 f sometimes 160, is that about right for the lower rad hose. The stock guage is so off it isn't even funny.
Uhh you put your sender in the lower rad hose? All that will do is tell you the temperature after the rad cools the water down.

My question is ... umm... why? heh...

And yes, the stock gauge is CRAP.

It shows like 2/3 of the way up when the car isnt even fully warmed up, and the real temp gauge shows like 170
Old 07-13-03 | 01:59 PM
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actually fingers, it would, should show the temp of thwe water coming out of the motor on the way to the rad. The reason it is their is so I didn't have to drill and tap the water pump.

Would the water above the thermostat be coming from the cooler rad, or do I have the direction of water floe backwards? If so, I guess it is time to go buy a tap and drill bit.
Old 07-13-03 | 03:01 PM
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On my 88 T-II, I have a radiator with a small leak, of course with the radiator full of water, my autometer water temp gauge reads fully warmed up 160 degrees F.
It stays at 160F also when I am cruising on the highway
When i get on the car it goes up like 5 degrees more.
The leak in the radiator isnt that bad, but after a few days "like a week or 10 days" I will have to add water cause the temps are going up, I notice that the temps always go up when im in traffic barely moving of course this is already with the radiator low on water. The radiator can be low on water, however on the highway cruising like around 60-80 MPH it doesent over heat for nothing, obviously because the car is moving, and the air is hitting the radiator. When I had the A/C working the temps would only go up like 5 degrees from 160 degrees just cruising the car in the city, and also getting the same temps on the highway, not bad for a T-II with a leaking radiator. By the way the stock water temp gauge is working perfectly fine reading very cool temps,
along with the Auto Meter gauge. I find it kind of funny that people complain about the stock water temp gauge,
because comparing the stock water temp reading to the autometer gauge is about the same. For example when the water temp gauge is marking 1/2 way, the Autometer gauge marks at 185-190 F, if I remember correctly. In ot her words when I see that the stock water temp gauge starts rising the Autometer gauge rises in temp according to the stock water temp gauge.
I highly recommend that every owner of a Rotary Engine get a aftermarket water temp gauge to monitor there water temps, as this is very crucial to the life of your engine. I also recommend a after market oil pressure gauge as well.
Old 07-13-03 | 03:13 PM
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Originally posted by wpgrexx
actually fingers, it would, should show the temp of thwe water coming out of the motor on the way to the rad. The reason it is their is so I didn't have to drill and tap the water pump.

Would the water above the thermostat be coming from the cooler rad, or do I have the direction of water floe backwards? If so, I guess it is time to go buy a tap and drill bit.
The upper hose is from the engine to the radiator.The bottom hose flows from the radiator to the engine.
Old 07-13-03 | 03:22 PM
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Most of the time my car seems to be at approx.185 to 190 at idle and runs around 195 during normal driving.About 210 is the hottest I've seen it but that only seems to be under continuos hard driving.It quickly cools down once I start driving normal.Cooling system is stock with the sender in the water pump housing,and using an Autometer Ultra-light electric temp gauge.Electric fan set to come on at 180.Also noticed that the autometer gauge can move from 180 to 200 and the stock gauge will never move.
Old 07-13-03 | 03:33 PM
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holy ****, I am a retard. That is the last time I listen to my Dad. I was going to put it in the upper and he said, why do u want the temp of the rad, put it in the lower.

**** beans, Now I need a new hose. Oh well, not that big of deal i guess. It was a good thing i gues to set the fan low, I need to do some work. Thanks Dak, and Fingers
Old 07-13-03 | 04:34 PM
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*****where can i buy a thermo-gun or whatever its called? and whats a decent price on one?*****


http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke80T-IR_E.html Stuff cost money. This is pretty cheap if you already have a meter that meets the requirements specified in the url.

Or one of these: http://www.tequipment.net/FlukeDigitalThermometers.html

And in ref to one of the posts above: I have a 86 and two 88's. All the water gauges read in the first quarter of the gauge. If they go over a quarter reading of the gauge, then things are boiling hot. 195 degrees will make my needle go approx three needle widths up from the low hash mark. I understand that the temp sensor changed somewhere after 1987 and maybe the gauge itself. If I ever see a gauge at the halfway mark......I'm pulling over and turning the engine off. Just personal experience. I've never driven a newer car than 1987. I wonder how many other cars of the 1986-1987 vintage read like mine????

Or this: http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke80TK.html if you already have a meter that meets the requirements.

Last edited by HAILERS; 07-13-03 at 04:38 PM.
Old 07-13-03 | 10:29 PM
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any ideas on this my car jumps from like 1/4 on the stock gauge to like 1/2 if i turn on the ac any ideas why



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