Jump to content

L20b temp? how hot is to hot


Lozer

Recommended Posts

hot weather running temps for an l20b?

 

Coming back from lathrup today my guage was up in the 220+ area. how hot is to hot with this motor? I did not over heat im just concerned.

 

Also i have the stock "late model" 510 Radiator which would be more effective installing electric electric fans or a larger radiator. (yes i know both would be the way to go but i are poor)

 

Im going to put in a cooler thermostat also 160 deg

Link to comment
  • Replies 8
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

I had a 180 degree thermostat in my L20B before my headgasket blew. Since I live in an area that can be 0 out during the winter, I decided to try a 190 thermostat and see what happens next winter. During the few cold days we had after I swapped it out, the heater worked awesome, and it warmed up much faster. On the hotter days as of late, it is no different in temp than the 180 I had in there. I only have a stock gauge, but I run around 1/3 up to a around 3/4 up in the normal range. Normal temp for me is around 1/2, but I get up around 3/4 after a long haul up a hill. FWIW, my radiator is the original 3 core.

Link to comment

Blown headgasket is not caused by 200 or 220 degrees.

Most common causes:

* Defective gasket

* Incorrect torque on head bolts. My Datsun owner's manual says to retorque with every tune-up (every 12000 miles)

* Improper prep: make sure block and head face are prepped, no oil, no grease, scraped perfectly clean. Use no sealer. Bolt holes cleaned out, threads chased and dry.

* Massive overheating (loss of coolant)

Link to comment

The thermostat temp rating isn't the temp the vehicle runs at, it's the temp the thermostat is fully open at. That's probably why Nissan recommended a 190 for cold areas and a 160 for hot areas. Hot areas don't need a hot thermostat, cold areas need a higher rated temp for the heater to work right.

Link to comment

if you have a 160 thermostat it will start to open at 160 and be fully open at about 180. that's why nissan recommends a 190 thermostat because there's a 20 degree range from just open to full open. which would put the full open temp at about 210. and as long as your cooling system is working properly (i.e. good cap, no leaks, good coolant, clean rad...) and you're driving under normal conditions, then it'll never hit 210. throw an aftermarket coolant temp gauge in there and watch it. you will see when the thermostat starts to open, when it's fully opened and then when it closes back up. a modern properly working thermostat opens and closes over and over your temp will never be steady for very long periods of time.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.