My OEm coolant temp gauge was reading outside what i was used to seeing, reading higher most of the time, yet my mechanical OP gauge indicated the oil temps were normal. I recently replaced the 6 year old 2 1/8" Motorad 195 thermostat with a Stant Superstat 195.
Wanting more data, I used thermally conductive epoxy to adhere a K type thermocouple to my intake manifold and covered it with a few layers of gaffer's tape.
This indicated that level driving at freeway speeds the manifold surface was basically 172 to 185, and only really went above that after slowinng down for traffic lights, or when climbing extended grades. The OEM gauge swung more wildly and often I would see the OEM gauge level then turn on the digital display and my guess as to the reading, often be off by 10 degrees or more, even after doing this for ~2500 miles in 6 days of observations.
The Highest temp I saw on Thermocouple on manifold was 208.3 F, and that was climbing the Grapevine Southbound on I-5 where one goes from ~300 foot elevation to 4500 feet in just a few miles. Ambient temps was ~95f. The OEM gauge rose pretty high too. I was only able to maintain 50MPH in third up this grade with my foot nearly to the floor.
Anybody else ever collect temperature data on the surface of the engine and or have any comments as to how closely the temperature of the coolant relates to the surface of the engine?
I think I need to cover the several layers of gaffers tape with some reflective tape to better insulate the thermocouple from air passing over the engine.
Wanting more data, I used thermally conductive epoxy to adhere a K type thermocouple to my intake manifold and covered it with a few layers of gaffer's tape.
This indicated that level driving at freeway speeds the manifold surface was basically 172 to 185, and only really went above that after slowinng down for traffic lights, or when climbing extended grades. The OEM gauge swung more wildly and often I would see the OEM gauge level then turn on the digital display and my guess as to the reading, often be off by 10 degrees or more, even after doing this for ~2500 miles in 6 days of observations.
The Highest temp I saw on Thermocouple on manifold was 208.3 F, and that was climbing the Grapevine Southbound on I-5 where one goes from ~300 foot elevation to 4500 feet in just a few miles. Ambient temps was ~95f. The OEM gauge rose pretty high too. I was only able to maintain 50MPH in third up this grade with my foot nearly to the floor.
Anybody else ever collect temperature data on the surface of the engine and or have any comments as to how closely the temperature of the coolant relates to the surface of the engine?
I think I need to cover the several layers of gaffers tape with some reflective tape to better insulate the thermocouple from air passing over the engine.