Triumph Repair: proper temp for 1975 spitfire, gauge reading, meat thermometer

Question
QUESTION: Hi Howard,
I have a 1975 spitfire and when I'm running it in the summer the engine get up to 220-230 and I was wondering if this is to hot or normal. this happen mostly when I'm on the highway.

ANSWER: Hi David,

No, that temp is not normal and if it were that hot it should be boiling over and loosing fluid all the time.

First you need to determine if the gauge reading is correct. The use of a kitchen meat thermometer will confirm that plus if it is not loosing fluid then you can be sure it is not correct.

Next step is to get the dye from any auto parts store to add to the coolant to test for CO in the cooling system. This tests for a leaking head gasket or a cylinder head crack.

If you are loosing fluid and the temp is high like the gauge reads, you also need to remove and test the thermostat. (Don't run the engine with the thermostat out)

Other things that contribute to over heating are, incorrect ignition timing, too lean setting on the carburetor, radiator stoppage, Lower hose soft or the inner lining loose or a loose impeller on the water pump.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: what would be the proper temp for the car?

Answer
First I don't believe your temperature readings. So it is a waste of time looking at that gauge. If your coolant was 220 to 230 degrees it would have blown half of the coolant out already. some new cars do run very high temps in an attempt to clean emissions but no old British car can run those high temps without doing damage.

GET a KITCHEN MEAT THERMOMETER AND CHECK IT!! You may have nothing wrong. The temp that a car (any car) runs totally depends on out side air temp plus the driving conditions and the condition of the engine and cooling system.

Remove the thermostat and look at the temp rating on it. That is the temp at which it is fully open. If you have a "cold" thermostat it will probably be about 175 degrees so I would not want to see much more then 180 on a gauge. If it is a 190 degree thermostat, it may run about 200 degrees.

If you will do what I told you, you will find the problem.

Howard