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operating temp on BN6

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bighealeysource

bighealeysource

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Hey all,
Just got back from my first real test drive on the BN6
I have been finishing up over the last 12 months. Nice
day over here, low 70's, and my water temp ran up to
about 190 + and stayed there as long as I kept moving.
If I stopped to speak to someone it started to rise over
200. But, when I shut it down it has now pegged the gauge
at over 230 but not boiling over. Obviously a lot of residual
heat to cool off but is this a problem ? I have read
everything I can about operating temps and apparently 190+
is pretty common so that may not be an issue. But is it
continuing to go up after I shut it off ? Guess if it
boiled over would be an indicator. Don't know what
thermostat was put in by the previous owner that rebuilt
the engine.
Thanks,
Mike
 
Assuming the gauge is good, that's a little HOT. My BN7 runs at 180 normal, in very hot days, 190 degrees. Did you clean out the radiator? Replace the water pump?
 
I just went through all those symptoms last summer. I ended up having the radiator re-cored with more fins per inch and I now run around 180 on a 75 degree day. I have a 160 thermostat. I also installed a six-bladed fan from British Car Specialists and have no issues at idle. The biggest problem was that about 1/3rd of my core down tubes were plugged with a clay-like substance. The top of the radiator had to be removed to reveal this condition. A sure sign of a clogged radiator is if it overheats while on the freeway at 70mph. If you have it recored make sure the shop knows which side the overhang of the top tank goes: take a picture with you -- it is not idiot proof. My shop put it together backwards and had to redo it.
 
When the egine is switched off, the water no longer circultes through the cooling system. The water will continue to pull heat from the engine and the temp will raise for a while, possible above the boiling point. This is normal. Eventually, with the engine off, the water will cool down. The real issue is whether your engine runs hot when when you are driving under normal running conditions.
 
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