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1964 AH 3000 operating temperature

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jsteinberg48

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My water gauge is at 190 after 1 hour at 50 mph. What is the factory spec (which I can't find) for the operating water temperature?

Should it be 180? or lower?

Thank you very much.

Jeffrey Steinberg
 
jsteinberg48 said:
My water gauge is at 190 after 1 hour at 50 mph. What is the factory spec (which I can't find) for the operating water temperature?

Should it be 180? or lower?

Thank you very much.

Jeffrey Steinberg
Click to expand...
I don't think there is a factory spec but if my Healey ran at 190 I'd be happy with that. You didn't mention the ambient temp. Don't assume that your temp gauge is accurate.
 
jsteinberg48 said:
180. Is that right?
Click to expand...

I think 180 is the most common thermostat. That's what I have, and my car runs at 185 to 190 no matter what the outside temperature as long as I'm moving. I think 190 after 1 hour at 50 mph is very normal.
 
Austin-Healeys are known for running hot. Usually, they'll hold set point (thermostat) temp when cruising--exceptions are pulling up a grade on a hot day and similar stressful conditions--but start to heat up when stuck in traffic. The 'cures' have been discussed at great length, but the best bang for the bucks come with a clean (hot tanked) block, uprated (clean) radiator core, an aftermarket fan (flex or 'Texas Cooler'), a fan shroud and extra baffling around the radiator. Side louvers probably help, though I've never had them (lack of airflow through the engine compartment has been cited as one of the heating causes).

My BJ8 will stay at or below 180deg most of the time. It has an uprated core, flex fan and shroud and the engine was hot-tanked at rebuild about 100K miles ago. Sitting at idle, or in slow-and-go traffic on a warm day the temp will rise to 200deg or more. At 65deg ambient and 50MPH, your temp should be 180 or less with a 180 thermostat; your engine will hardly be working in top O/D. If your car has the original core, the block has not been cleaned, and you have the stock fan that would explain your 190 temp. Also, check your timing--if it's retarded you'll get overheating, and running too lean will contribute (up to a point). The higher running temp won't hurt anything, until you get stuck in traffic on a warm day and you won't have as much margin before boiling.
 
Mine is standard and runs at between 160-180 depending on Ambient temp and traffic. A jam and hot weather might push it up to 190. The cooling system is standard with a recently re-cored radiator.
 
Mine ran in the 180-190 range for some time until I discovered that the coolant level was low. I topped up only to discover that the top-up was being discharged via the drain tube when the vehicle hit operatng temperature. I then tried topping up when the vehicle was already at temperature (to a level just above top of fins) and it has remained at the correct level since that top-up. It now runs reliably at 170F in an ambient temperature of 50-80F.
 
My gauge is efficent BUT have the needle a little forward and easy it signed 212°F to control the exactly temperature I have used this BARBECUE digital probe (max T range 300°F), finding that my car never go over 190°F/180°F(80/90°C)
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/63c4INIddZ6SqP59JwjNTdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
Now, I control with it, the OIL temperature at the entrance of my OIL cooler(80-90°C max- in summer time and after long range trip)
Next summer probably my steaks
 
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