quote:Originally posted by deeb:
I have over 520 hp and still use the stock water pump. Compression is 10.5:1.
Even with my old stock rad I could sit in traffic all day and barely break 200 degrees. With my new Fluidyne, even after a high speed run on the highway I can sit idling in the 90 degree sunshine in my driveway and barely get to 200 degrees.
On the highway I have to turn my fans off or I would drop to 160 degrees. And that's on a hot day!
I think it has more to do with good new cooling tubes, hoses and a proper thermostat - along with good engine circulation, ventilation and oiling systems.
Are these gauge temperatures that you are talking about or actual temperatures taken with an I/R heat gun? If the coolant tubes under the car are plugged, then I can understand there being a problem with flow, but there isn't much room for improvement in that area because you can only increase their size a little bit more than the stock size. If you are running a 160 degree thermostat, then I think you are running this engine a bit on the cool side. The stock cooling system flow design is restrictive. I reduced operating temperatures one my car by increasing the coolant flow to and from the radiator. If you can get by with your system and lots of horse power, then good for you. I have seen many Panteras that their owners say don't run hot, pull into the parking lot in Las Vegas in late April and dump coolant all over the ground. I think it must be the sinful nature of the place that causes these problems with Panteras or that dam stop and go traffic and desert heat.