• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Running Temp, Guage, Sender Questions

pipercollins

Member
Offline
Hello all, I'm trying to determine whether my temp reading is good/correct. First of all, I have established that I trust my temp gauge. (See thread https://www.triumphexperience.com/phorum/read.php?8,4159 I hope it's ok to refer to posts on another forum here) I think the gauge is good, but I'm still scratching my head a little bit.

<span style="font-weight: bold">1. What is the typical running temp of a 1500?</span> Once mine warms up in the first place, it's almost always dead on the second mark on the gauge. Which I have determined to be right around 150F. I'd always heard that spits tended to run hot...not apparently true in my case. Although I have yet to run it hard on a 90-100 degree day, I've run it in all weather from 50 to the upper 80s. Town, highway, whatever. I'm always within a needle's width of that second mark.

Drove the spit to work the other day and the temp had dropped to freezing overnight. Nice and frosty in the morning. Figured it was a good opportunity to see how the car ran if I covered about half of the radiator with cardboard. Drove it 30 minutes to work, still right on that second mark. Heater works well enough. By the time I drove home temp had got up to the low 60's and sunny. Put the top down but decided to keep the radiator half covered and watched the dial close. Still right on that second mark all the way home.

<span style="font-weight: bold">2. Is it reasonable to expect this little engine to run at such a consistent temp?</span> Like I said, I trust the gauge. I figure the sender either works or doesn't, and I used the same sender in my boiling kettle test.

<span style="font-weight: bold">3. Is this temp actually low for optimum power and efficiency?</span> Could there be a t-stat issue? If it isn't broke, I don't want to break it. But I'm really second guessing things.
 

poolboy

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
The normal operating temperature for your engine might be found in a workshop manual. I know that the "NOT" for the TR6 is in the Haynes Manual in the beginning of the chapter called "Cooling System".
You should be able to find thermostat recomendations in the same chapter. Ambient temperature will definitly have an effect on how effeciently your radiator works.
 

Andrew Mace

Moderator
Staff member
Country flag
Offline
pipercollins said:
<span style="font-weight: bold">1. What is the typical running temp of a 1500?</span> Once mine warms up in the first place, it's almost always dead on the second mark on the gauge. Which I have determined to be right around 150F. I'd always heard that spits tended to run hot...not apparently true in my case. Although I have yet to run it hard on a 90-100 degree day, I've run it in all weather from 50 to the upper 80s.
I don't think Spits run particularly hot as a rule, but a lot depends on the overall condition of the cooling system, including how clear the cooling passages in the block are!

pipercollins said:
<span style="font-weight: bold">2. Is it reasonable to expect this little engine to run at such a consistent temp?</span> Like I said, I trust the gauge. I figure the sender either works or doesn't, and I used the same sender in my boiling kettle test.
Consistent is ok, but....

pipercollins said:
<span style="font-weight: bold">3. Is this temp actually low for optimum power and efficiency?</span> Could there be a t-stat issue? If it isn't broke, I don't want to break it. But I'm really second guessing things.
I think it's pretty darned low, if indeed the actual coolant temperature is 150F, which I kinda doubt. I'd want to confirm actual coolant temperature with a good candy thermometer or an infrared or something along those lines. I'd also want to [re]check the thermostat for proper function. I'm wondering if you have a very cool thermostat? 150F might indicate a very, very cool thermostat, and that might be ok in the summer in Texas, but....

And yes, I'd suspect regardless that an actual 150F is a bit low for optimum power and efficiency!
 
OP
pipercollins

pipercollins

Member
Offline
That's kind of along the lines of what I was thinking. Might have to try another t-stat to see. At least that's a pretty easy thing to buy and try.

Thanks again.
 
OP
pipercollins

pipercollins

Member
Offline
Next question from the newbie, can I pick up a t-stat anywhere for my 76 spit, or do I have to order from one of LBC suppliers? Are they universal?
 

poolboy

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Not exactly universal as there are different diameters, but you will be able to get one of the right diameter at your local auto part store. The diameter is not unique to your Spit. They will probably even have it listed on their computer. I don't remember if they come with the gasket, but RTV will seal the housing.
 

Andrew Mace

Moderator
Staff member
Country flag
Offline
poolboy said:
I don't remember if they come with the gasket, but RTV will seal the housing.
If it doesn't come with a gasket, chances are the counterpeople will be able to find -- at worst -- a "universal" gasket that will work. To me, that would be preferable to any sort of silicone sealant.
 

Geo Hahn

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
I laways keep a supply of gasket paper as I prefer to make my own -- the ready-mades never fit to suit me (holes not exact, edges of gasket overhanging, etc.

Real easy to do -- how many other car parts can you make at the kitchen counter with a pair of scissors and a hole punch?
 

poolboy

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Geo Hahn said:
-- how many other car parts can you make at the kitchen counter with a pair of scissors and a hole punch?
:yesnod: Not enough, believe you me.
 
OP
pipercollins

pipercollins

Member
Offline
Geo Hahn said:
I laways keep a supply of gasket paper as I prefer to make my own -- the ready-mades never fit to suit me (holes not exact, edges of gasket overhanging, etc.

Real easy to do -- how many other car parts can you make at the kitchen counter with a pair of scissors and a hole punch?

I'm all about the making your parts at home. I fixed my horn push with a beer bottle cap. I'm particularly proud of that one.

Thanks for the tips and advice guys.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
M Proper running temp for 1275 Spridgets 28
R low/high temp engine running question Spridgets 23
K TR2/3/3A Anyone running an Oil Temp sensor on their TR3/4? Triumph 11
jerrybny TR6 Normal running temp for TR6 Triumph 13
bluemiata90 TR2/3/3A Normal running temp for TR3 engine Triumph 10
NutmegCT running temp MG 6
K TR2/3/3A What are the running symptoms........ Triumph 21
T General Tech Running hot Triumph 8
J TR4/4A 1964 Triumph TR4 - Not Starting/Running Triumph 3
shadowfever Running well, then no fire Spridgets 7
C Rough-Running 3000 Austin Healey 29
S MGB Running poorly MG 7
tr6web TR6 TR6 rough running - what can it be? Triumph 17
Hamish Racing TR2/3/3A Winter engine running in - icy Triumph 7
R running car on jack stands Spridgets 16
BierRunner TR6 TR6 Running Rough Triumph 5
tr6web TR6 Quit running after a few minutes - need advice Triumph 15
B For Sale 57TR3 Small Mouth with OD Project. 12 yeqrs running. I'm not going to finish Triumph Classifieds 14
sparkydave Trouble running hot Spridgets 10
T TR2/3/3A rough running after 20 min shutdown Triumph 9
S TR2/3/3A Running rich SUs. Triumph 25
Y Wanted Looking for running 3.5L MK V engine Jaguar Classifieds 0
J Spitfire 1979 Spitfire Running rough [sputtering, exhaust poping] at start up Triumph 2
Gliderman8 Starter keeps running TVR 20
Rut MGB Running out of gas symptoms MG 21
K TR2/3/3A Anyone running NGK spark plugs? Triumph 26
T TR2/3/3A Anyone running tubeless radials on TR3 steel radials? Triumph 2
N Running Cold Austin Healey 12
bugedd Car running poorly Spridgets 7
Bob_Spidell Running hot/Overheating Austin Healey 44
Martinld123 SU carbs lose fuel prime when not running Austin Healey 3
mailbox For Sale 76 TR 7 project car [non running] Triumph Classifieds 0
N Stuck Needle Valve - Rough Running Austin Healey 15
J For Sale 1976 Sptifire with 1.8L Miata engine/5-speed [running like a boss!] Triumph Classifieds 0
BN6 Breaking In Running In a newly built Healey Engine Austin Healey 15
R TR2/3/3A TR 3A running hot at high rpm Triumph 12
HighAltitudeTR3 TR2/3/3A Running a little hot... Triumph 14
D Lilly running #3 / since last we talked.... Austin Healey 7
D Lilly second time running... or trying Austin Healey 8
D Lilly first time running in 15 years.... Austin Healey 19
sd80mac7204 TR6 Interesting TR6 running issue Triumph 19
glemon TR5/TR250 Stumped TR250 Running Rough--Follow Up Triumph 3
glemon TR5/TR250 Stumped TR250 Running Rough Triumph 8
F TR2/3/3A SUs Running Rich Triumph 25
S TR2/3/3A Struggling to stay running during warmup? Triumph 0
vette Constant Engine Running RPM. Austin Healey 20
S TR2/3/3A Oil Leak Dripping from Front and Rear of Left Side Oil Pan---Only While Running Triumph 14
C T-Series MGTC Running Boards MG 1
gbtr6 TR6 TR6 no start after running amazingly well til now. Triumph 16
K TR4/4A Running the motor witout the gearbox installed? Triumph 3

Similar threads

Top