Can anyone advise as to the average engine temp a 455 engine should run at say 60-70 mph. I have a 180 degree thermostat, and new radiator. Engine has apprx 200 miles on it, and currently runs apprx 210 degrees, ambient air temps are apprx 80 degrees. Is this normal or is there someway I can get it lower? Thanks, Mark
I have the same thermostat and mine run's 180-190. Is it a newer thermostat? I had an old one that acted like your's allbeit a 195 stat, but I just didnt like seeing the needle above 200. does the fan clutch turn real easy, if so a new one might be in order. anybody else..... anyone.............. Buehler............. uzzled: Good Luck Mark :3gears: D.
Dana, In the engine bay everything is brand new from radiator back to the trans. Could this be caused from just being a new motor and still very tight? Mark
How many miles/hours does it have. After I got mine rebuilt it ran hot for a few houndred miles, could be the problem. Dana
I bet it will cool down soon. One thing I did was change the oil like 3 or 4 times in the first 500 miles just to make sure she wasnt suffering. Get out there and drive some more! D.
Put a 160* in it for now. Also, 210* is as hot as you ever want to get it. Drain the rad, and use just water with Red Line Water Wetter or the Royal Purple stuff. It should drop the temp 20*. Be sure to drain it in the fall and run 50/50 antifreeze to prevent freezing up and cracking the block.
Mine is an older bottom end with all new top end and radiator. 160 Deg. thermostat. It averages 150 to 160 at cruise speed.
455 Cooling A Buick 455 is a hot runnig engine and a thermostat will not solve the problem. First make sure the engine is not running to lean or incorrect timing. Second use a 4 row radiator, aluminum works best. Third use a good clutch fan the correct distance from the radiator. Fourth make sure you are using the correct fan shrould. Fifth axle ratio is important and engine RPMs. Hope this helps, AL.
The comments made as to things to check are all excellent.I found that I was having trouble due to a defective new thermostat.It was a 160*.I was getting high temps at slow speed and low temps on the highway.I put in a new 180* stat and problems were solved.Temp now runs 180 to 185 under all conditions.Last weekend ambient temp was 90F. and the engine temp stayed solidly at 180F. Another oddball thing to check out is where your temp guage sensor is located.I have an Edelbrock Performer and did have the sensor screwed into what I can only refer to as the "blind" cavity.This will give false or inconsistent readings.Make sure you are in a "through" passage. Hope this is of some help from one who had to muddle through a couple of weird situations. Rod
Mark, one more thing, When I did my 455 I installed those March billet pulley's which under drove the water pump and resulted in higher temp's. After I swapped my stock pulleys back in it ran cool,cool,cool. Lost a little HP but the trade off was worth it to me. D.
Thanks for the suggestions!. Since its going to rain all weekend I will have some time to make a few changes and run it again next week.:TU: Mark
I may well have found the problem, when I bought the radiator I requested and paid for a 4 row core. I was given a 3 row, and never bothered to check it out. Exchanged it today, and dropped in a 160 degree thermostat. It has rained all afternoon so no luck on testing it out. Got to believe this may end the problem! Thanks again to all for the advise. Mark:TU:
455 Cooling I forwarded a post earlier but I need to add something to what I said about the thermostat. I said a thermostat will not resolve the problem, the post was about a good thermostat. A thermstat only gets a engine up to operating temperature and maintains it. Some think this part helps the temprature down and you would be half right because without one many times the engine would overheat because the thermostat acts as a restriction to asure the coolant stays in the radaitor long enough to remove the heat, AL.
