[Spridgets] Heater Box Clips

[Dean Hedin]

Billy Z,  What David said below is exactly what I was trying to explain in my previous 
message.

It's not unreasonable for the temp to rise up above 200F if you are not getting good 
flow of air through the radiator (like idling in traffic on a hot day).

But once you get moving the temp should come down close to what your thermostat 
temp is.  Just look back at Skips email, on an 85F day and running 
hard he is seeing 185F.  That is ideal.

And like you said there is some head room in that it won't boil until it gets to around 230F
but my engine starts to ping & run-on when I get up over 210F, so you don't want to go 
there. 
 
FWIW, with regard to thermostats, the manual states 
160F for warm climates
180F normal
190F for cold climates

Vizard states best power produced at 160F (70c)

So I am not alarmed with the 160F I have in there now, but I do want to go back and 
change it to a 180F at  some point.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Lieb" <72spridget at gmail.com>


> On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 12:10 AM, Billy Zoom <billyzoom at billyzoom.com> wrote:
>> The purpose of the thermostat is to make the engine warm up faster because
>> almost all engine wear occurs while the engine is below normal operating
>> temperature. It's not supposed to hold the engine at it's rated temperature
>> like your furnace thermostat.
> 
> Are you SERIOUS???
> The thermostat's job most certainly IS to keep the engine within a
> specific temperature range. It is the means whereby the cooling system
> can compensate for the differences between driving in 100F and driving
> in -30F. Otherwise you would be constantly leaning into heat soak or
> running your engine cold. Have you ever had a car with a functional
> temperature gauge? You can watch the thermostat opening and closing.
> If your cooling system does not have the necessary capacity and
> ability to transfer heat out, then no, a 160 thermostat will make no
> difference. If, OTOH, you have a good radiator and capacity, it WILL
> make your engine run cold. Not that it would be a good thing. Yes, if
> your Spridget is overheating with a 180 in there, the 160 will not fix
> anything, but that is because it isn't the problem.
> David L