[Healeys] Aluminum Radiator

[Bob Spidell]

My gauge was recently refurbished and calibrated by West Valley Instruments (the former 'Mo' in MoMa), so I'm reasonably 
confident it's accurate.   My temp will stay below the thermostat set point (180degF) on a cool day.  Coasting down a 
hill, it often gets below 160.  Driving along steady on a mild day it will stay at 180 (expected), then exceed that on a 
hot day pulling a load or sitting in traffic.  My heater is usually off--but the valve on the block is open 
year-round--and I've used it as an 'auxiliary radiator' when it gets close to 212deg.

So, assuming the gauge is correct, why is my temp often below 180 (Kees?).  The only explanation I can think of is that 
the engine is sufficiently air-cooled in benign conditions to keep the thermostat closed.  I've tried several 
thermostats with same result, and have tested a couple on the stove in hot water. Apparently, others are experiencing 
the same phenomenon.

Bob


On 10/15/2014 7:07 AM, Bob wrote:
> Well, I'm not and that is because nowhere in this discussion has gauge accuracy come up.
> I'd suspect that is a big contributor to the spread in readings.
>
> If someone makes a change and all other conditions are the same the difference may be
> pretty close to being correct but the absolute value of the temperature reading is still suspect
> in my view.
>
> Bob
>
>
>


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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net

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