Getting Heat into engine

[David Lynch]

Ran a good 100 miles yesterday (Brr!!) and am getting a bit concerned that not getting block up to temperature (1.4K SS). What are likely consequences? Last time I had exhaust off I noticed exhaust chambers of head black with soot ☹️

 

I'm assuming all I'd do is cover bottom part of Grille or Radiator with card to restrict clean air flow. Like to see 70°C normal minimum (reasonable?)

Fan kicks in 89°C and off at 80°C

 

Cheers, David

 

1.4K SS 😬 The Geek will inherit the earth

[Johnty Lyons]

75 is the minimum and to achive it very cold weather [if your not in town a lot but on open roads] you may need to blank off the bottom third of the rad.

[Adrian M]

3 strips of duct tape across the bottom of the nose cone seems to work well for me.

 

Ade

[Golf Juliet Tango]

I have masked off part of the grill to try and keep the temperature up otherwise there is nothing left for the heater! I am running a cross-flow with a race rad (someone's discard, fitted when the old steel one started leaking). On fitting the new rad the average running temp dropped by about 10 degrees.

Next year I will probably mask off a bit more than i did this year.

[Tom_C]

Surely the thermostat should stop the rad having any effect below 88 degrees anyway? Or have you taken out the stat? My 1.6k seems to heat up reasonably well even on saturday night with frost on the tonneau.

 

 

Cheers

 

Tom

 

FH54WLX - only the car supports ManU, honest!

[h_____]

Recently took the stat out of mine, 3 strips of duct tape does the job on the road, 2 on track!

[David Lynch]

Tom_C. Now I'm confused but enlightned . Take it I should be looking for another thermostat (wax type I take it, but where, °C rating ?) Would explain a lot

Fan stat works fine (replaced for lower temperature one)

Fit one or Duct Tape time ???

 

1.4K SS 😬 The Geek will inherit the earth

[Tom_C]

I think standard stat is 86 degree, and should be a traditional inline stat to cut the rad out of the loop. Some race cars run without a stat though.

 

 

Cheers

 

Tom

 

FH54WLX - only the car supports ManU, honest!

[David Lynch]

Duct tape it is then. Fan Stat kicks in at 89°C and fan off at 80°C. Rad Stat at 75°C would seem more sensible than 86°C. Ex racer, guess it never had one

😬 Ta muchly

 

1.4K SS 😬 The Geek will inherit the earth

[Sheds Moderator]

My 1.4kss has no stat either (the racers didn't as it was another thing to break and they ran hot anyway) but I have one in the garage where it is no use whatsoever. Fitting it will be a fiddle as it's dry sump and there are pipes everywhere. I have "fixed" it with 3 strips of duct tape in cool weather. 😬

[Doug]

I had the same problem with my Zetec 2.0 litre. It ran cool and rich until I read that the choke operated by the ECU do not cut out until the engine reaches 75 degrees. I used black gaffer tape to mask off the bottom 2 - 2.5 inches of the radiator (you'll need to experiment) and the probelm was solved.

 

Caterhams have efficient radiators which keep the engine cool (oddly enough). In cold weather they are overly efficient because they are designed with competition use in mind, requiring efficiency. In warmer weather, I find I still need to mask about 1 inch to keep the correct working temperature. You do have to be cautious if you're in slow moving traffic because the temperature can creep up - a good fan is essential! It's really a matter of trial and error (and care )

 

'Have you any idea what it's like to have the wind rushing through your hair!' (Quote:Sq Cdr the Lord Flashheart)

[Nick Chan]

Rather than use tape, I find it easier to drop a simple piece of card in the front of the radiatior. It stays in place, is obviously very easier to remove and doesn't leave any tacky marks when it is removed.

 

HTH

 

Nick

 

Now the Orange HPC - A 2.0 VX - 😬