86 Normal Operating temperature

[Patio]

I have an 86 early coupe with the cast iron heads. What should it's normal operating temperature be?

 

[JT ZR-Won]

I believe it's anywhere from 195-220 degrees if it's stock. I know a chip will kick your fans on earlier and drop the operating temperature a considerable amount. My '85 (with a 160 thermostat / chip and cast iron heads) never went over 205 in the summer.

Jay

 

[vader86]

Before i had the 160 and fan reprogram, Mine ran avg of 210 Oil and 200 Coolant.

Thats about 225-230 oil in town and roughly 195 on highway cruising. 220 coolant and 185-200 coolant on the hwy.

There are somethings to do to lower that, like adding a lower thermostat, adding a fan switch wired to the main fan, and definitely clean off the front of the radiator. Theres an area between the condenser and radiator that will be full of trash.

 

[rrubel]

My experience is similar to Vader86's. I'd regularly see 230 in commuter traffic, and 245 at the strip, for coolant. Oil tended to be about 10-15 degrees cooler. Now with an oil cooler, second fan, and 180 t-stat, I rarely see coolant above 220. Oil stays closer to the coolant temps, which makes sense.
[RICHR]

 

[c4ever]

My 85 used to run pretty hot. Always in the 228 range then fans would knock her down in stop and go traffic. Highway she would run about 190. Living in S. FL it averages 90+ in the summer so I went with the stage II chip and 160 stat but the biggest improvement was to dilute the anti-freeze mix to 70%water 30%Prestone. She runs at 180 hwy and 200 stop and go traffic with A/C running all day now.:cool Oil runs at 205 Hwy and 215 stop and go.

Carlo

 

[leericardo]

L98 operating temps

Hey, good topic! I watch my coolant temp more than my speed in my 86. In the summer it will run a steady 197 on the highway, but in stop & go city, it gets to 225 very quickly. Last summer, at the top of Sitgreaves Pass (Route 66), outside Needles, CA., I reached 245 so stopped and opened the hood for a little cooldown. "My guy" here says "not to worry" the warning light isn't even set to come on till 265 degrees. I do like the digital readout, but somehow, it causes me more anxiety than I think an analog guage would, since I guess these L98's just run pretty hot. My '92 LT1 has a much better cooling system and never varies on the guage from city to hiway driving. I liked the suggestions given so far on this subject and think I will look into these for my '86. I'm just not comfortable "cruising" at 225 either.
Thanks. Oh yes, definately keep the crap (leaves, etc.) out from in front of the radiator!