Ok so I have a 1992 Camaro 305 TBI. It's a convertible but that shouldn't make a difference AFAIK.

Reason I'm posting is because it seems my engine is running too cold...there's a couple reasons I think this - 1, if I get in the car and am driving around, the temp gauge never moves above 100. If I let it idle for like an hour, it will get up to about 180. 2, I have no heat. I know the heater core is good because I just replaced it like 2 months ago. 3, After driving around for an hour (averaging 45mph) I can pop the hood and hold the radiator hose or even put my hand on the engine block and it's comfortably warm...I would think it should be burning hot...

It is a couple degrees F below zero here but my dad and girlfriend both have an inline 4 in their sebring/stratus and if that can heat up and put out heat I would think my big ol' V8 would have no problem.

I have done some searching and from what I understand the stock thermostat was 195, but 180 is optimum. I have no idea what thermostat is in there now, it's the one it had when I bought it 7 months ago. Should I get a 195* for winter and 180* for summer, and would that fix my problem? Is the temperature imprinted on the thermostat anywhere so I could see what it has now? Or is it normal for these cars to just run this cold in the winter?

Lack of heat in sub-zero temps with a drafty convertible brought my attention to this, but I am mostly concerned with the well-being of the engine...

Oh, and I was looking in Chiltons online, and they shoe the thermostat cover having two electrical sensors coming off it...is this a TPI thing because my TBI has no electrical connectors?

Thanks!

 

Well you are on the right track.

First thing I would do is go pick up a 180 degree thermostat. It sounds like your thermostat is either stuck open or the previous owner may have removed it.

In a perfect world, an engine with a 180 thermostat will warm up to 180 and then stay there. An engine with a 195 thermostat will warm up to 195 and then stay there. So what Im saying is that either one should help your problem, it will just change your operating temperature. Like you said, most choose the 180.

 

I know its there I took it out to do a colant flush when I did the heater core (and yes, I put it back in) I just wasn't sure if the thermostat would be the problem or if others have in into the same symptoms from different problems.

thanks for the info!

 

I am having the same problem after doing a flush.

I have tested the thermostat and it is working fine. I dont think that there is enough coolant in it to get to operating temp. I have tried to 'burp' the colant system but I must not be doing it right.

 

My first guess while reading was no T-stat.
Having never driven in sub zero tempatures myself, do those that do drive in it have a different water to coolant ratio? Is your system full of coolant?

As for the person burping the system,
These cars will normally burp on their own. What I do is I fill the radiator, squeeze the upper hose to help push out air and top off after. Replace the cap. Fill the expansion tank past the full cold mark and run the car until the temp where the t-stat should open. Shut the car off and as it cools it will take the fluid from the expansion tank.

 

Thanks Mad... I'll give it a go.

 

you can block off some of the radiator opening with some cardboard and see if that helps. I know some truckers that do that in northern climates to help the engine keep from over cooling.

 

That is true. You at times see semis' with covers snapped over the grill to block air flow. But those trucks take a long time to get hot even in the summer.

 

Also possible that a previous owner got under the hood and rigged the fans to always be on or something like that. Had that problem with my car, then again mine needed to be on most of the time in the summer anyway...never really sees any winter driving.

 

The mixture does have to be a certain ratio depending on the temperature it'll go down to. I don't know what ratio, but I know the colder it gets, you need more antifreeze. I just have a tester that says if I have to add more antifreeze.

I think I'll put in a 180 thermostat and if that's not enough I'll put some cardboard in front of the radiator as you suggested.

As far as the fan is concerned...I think I remember thinking in the summer that I was surprised that it wasn't coming on at some points. Actually I don't remember if it ever came on...but I never had any problems with over heating so I didn't worry about it.

Thanks for all the info everyone!

 

Overcooling is almost always a stuck open thermostat. Some cars get the symptom too if the front shrouding over the radiator is removed as well, but its usually a thermostat.

 

Swapped in a 180 thermostat and it definitely made a huge difference. Assuming the the dash between the 100 and 220 on the instrument cluster represents 160, the car stays at around 150 while driving but it's still a ton better, and I'm actually getting hot air coming out of the vents now.

 

Yep, I had that happen in my car. 180 thermostat was only about 4 years old but started to overcool (car would take an eternity to warm up and would get too cold on the highway)

New Stant 180 stat and problem solved. Their "Premium" stat (their best thermostat of the 3 types offered) was $5.

Fans on wouldn't make a difference once the thermostat closes. Still a waste of fan motor, fuel, and voltage though.

 

I noticed a large difference in heat of the cabin in a 4th gen convert compared to a coupe with the same thermostat and engine temps. The heat output was good either way. But the roof of the converts lets too much heat escape.

Sub zero, you may want to go for a 195 stat. The 180 does a fine job down into the freezing and slighly lower ambient temp area. But below that, the heat output ratio to cold air entering the car changes enough that the stat change may be desired.

 

Well it's been 25-5 this week so it was only sub-zero for about a week and a half...hopefully it won't get that cold again this winter and the 180 will be good for the rest of winter. Next winter I might put in a 195...if I'm still in Michigan.

 

question guys i have a 85 z28 i just put in a 195 thermostat and it still runs at 100 on the gauge it doesnt even feel like theres water in the top hose but my water pump is moving the water in the radiator any ideas