HI all -

With all of the nasty heat we get here in the SouthWest, I've focused on keeping the engine coolant temps down on my 1275. It's started to get cooler here (ok, in the 70s if you can believe it) and when I drive my Mini I can't seem to get the coolant temp to warm up past 165 DegF. I have AutoMeter gauges so I'm confident they're reasonably accurate.

So, the question - how do I get my 1275 to completely warm up? To me, 195+ would be warm enough. After 15 minutes of highway driving my coolant temp was around 165 and my oil temp was about 150. I have a block-off panel for my remote oil cooler which will help the oil temp increase faster. but what about the coolant? I could block off part of the radiator with cardboard ... that seems about my only option.

This wouldn't normally be an issue, but I'm taking my Mini to the track for the first time this weekend and I don't want to do any damage to the engine from over cooling.

Any ideas would be helpful.

Jeff

 

different thermostat . . . .

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/GTS102/InvDetail.cfm

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/GTS102/InvDetail.cfm

not & has a themostat that goes into the oil cooler lines as well
"A compact thermostat unit to prevent over-cooling of the oil. "

 

Hmm, I'm not sure how swapping out a 195 DegF thermostat with a 160 DegF thermostat would help my situation. A warmer one sure, but not a cooler one.

I think I need to tweak my 2nd radiator design that I put in place to deal with the very hot summers here. There's no tstat or flow control on the coolant leaving the #4 cylinder, which goes through a 2nd (small) radiator and back to the hot side of the main radiator. Perhaps I can install some sort of ball valve inline to limit the coolant flow through it (like the heater control valve).

Now I just need to track down a ball valve for a 1/2" hose (maybe garden hose supply kind of thing).

 

wasn't nec' saying those thermostats ... the Mini is a pretty common size so I'm sure there are other options.

That said - if you are running a 195 and the temp never gets that high the therm should be closed .... is it? Or is it possible your therm is stuck open, never allowing the temp to build? Most have a problem with the therm sticking closed and resulting in an over heat, but the opposite is posible too.....