Radiator Temperature

1

1929

Well-known member
Took the car out for its winter exercise yesterday, for over an hour, the radiator temperature gauge was 130 to 135 with the outside temperature about 36 degrees. Is it ok to run the car that cold?, usually in the warm weather its at 160 and above.
 
Model A’s, as we know, were not built or designed for thermostats.

Back in the day they would just block some of the radiator to raise the temperature.

Some owners really like to run a thermostat. That’s OK, it’s their car.

Just keep in mind that for 90 years now. Most Model A’s have been running fine without one.

For 60 years I have not used one. Never a problem, even in up-state New
York.
 
WHN said:
Model A’s, as we know, were not built or designed for thermostats.

Back in the day they would just block some of the radiator to raise the temperature.

Some owners really like to run a thermostat. That’s OK, it’s their car.

Just keep in mind that for 90 years now. Most Model A’s have been running fine without one.

For 60 years I have not used one. Never a problem, even in up-state New
York.
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What you are doing is fine but I think the engine will run better and for longer in a cold climate if a T'stat is fitted.
 
Synchro909 said:
What you are doing is fine but I think the engine will run better and for longer in a cold climate if a T'stat is fitted.
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I’m to old to change, and my car is older than I am.

One of the things I enjoy most about this forum is the interchange of ideas.

Keep up the GOOD WORK!

Bill
 
1929 said:
Took the car out for its winter exercise yesterday, for over an hour, the radiator temperature gauge was 130 to 135 with the outside temperature about 36 degrees. Is it ok to run the car that cold?, usually in the warm weather its at 160 and above.
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Regardless of how you raise the temperature, with a thermostat or radiator blockage with cardboard, to answer the OP's original question, no you should not run your engine so cold because unburned fuel, acids and water will accumulate in the crankcase that have bypassed the piston rings. You need to raise the engine operating temperature in order to vaporize these bad things and vent them out. Your engine will thank you...
 
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1931 flamingo said:
Do you have a t/stat installed?? Concensus is you should.
Paul in CT
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I removed it because my rebuilder who has a great reputation, and who has been rebuilding these engines for many years, told me I should remove it, so for his experience and knowledge with the Model A, I did as he recommended.
 
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