Cold Running

zachmac · Post by **zachmac** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 6:46 am

First off, I know that there are a lot of forum members who would love to have this problem, but my 1978 Spider seems to be running cold. Either that or I have a bad sending unit / gauge. I am used to a sorted Spider running right on 190, maybe a little cooler running down the road and cycling up and down with the fan at idle around that range.

Now that I've cured the car of smoking (see other post), I noticed while driving in 83 degree SC heat that the car barely runs 160 indicated temp if I am moving at all. Plus it takes a very long time to warm up. If I just let it sit and idle it takes a very long time to even reach 190 (indicated). So, where to start?

I realize it could be several things: stuck open thermostat, bad sender, bad gauge, bad gauge wiring (ground). I don't have a heat gun handy; where should I start for troubleshooting? I would really rather run a little warmer for combustion efficiency.

GeorgeT · Post by **GeorgeT** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:32 am

Start with the thermostat; this sounds as if it is stuck in the OPEN position.

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:53 am

I have the same problem as it runs around the 120- 130 deg mark but in the line ups at Tim's, it does climb to 190 when the fan kicks in. I figure the temp range is fine with the summer heat we can get. I know I have a good rad and do have the 1/8th hole in the thermostat mod. Cooler mornings now, so the line-ups have to be longer before the temp gets up there.

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:55 am

I have found the issue with sticky stats is the small shaft the valve slides on gets sticky from contaminants in the coolant. I have cleaned this shaft and all is working ok, at least for the time. If the shaft could be lubed with maybe anti-seize or silicon like you get from the pool supply house, it would be operational again.

zachmac · Post by **zachmac** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:45 am

I just hate to break open / drain a working coolant system on these cars, fill and vent being the PITA it is. I'll check guage and sender first.

btoran · Post by **btoran** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:02 pm

borrow or buy a heat gun. they're cheap these days.

zachmac · Post by **zachmac** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:57 pm

btoran wrote:borrow or buy a heat gun. they're cheap these days.

That's a good first step. I'm sure my local friend / indy has one.

Cold Running

Cold Running

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