How hot can a 2.9L stand?

[Jspafford]

I was noticing lately when I shut off the truck the temp guage goes from 190 over to about 210 before it starts the cooldown cycle.

While towing the ATV this weekend in the hills and using the A/C I had the temp get to 200 on me while driving.

How hot can I get without worrying about the heads?

I don't think it will ever get over 210, but if it does I want to know what my margin of safety is.

I am thinking since it is now my only tow rig I may look into an explorer radiator.

 

[MAKG]

If it makes you nervous put the Exploder radiator in.

But your thermostat isn't even necessarily completely open at 210 deg (a common spec is +/- 20 deg!).

I'd get nervous at 230 deg with the engine running.

While the temperature gauge will go up after turning the engine off, the hottest part of the heads (around the exhaust valves) WILL NOT get any hotter, unless perhaps it's not immersed in coolant.

 

[Jspafford]

Thanks Mike!

 

[Hahnsb2]

I've had mine at 230 several times wheelin, makes me nervous but it's still fine. I need to put a 180* t-stat in, the 195 still lets it get too hot with the sploder rad.

 

[mjonesjr]

mine ran up to the A in normal on the stock gauge this weekend while wheeling.

 

[Jspafford]

mine ran up to the A in normal on the stock gauge this weekend while wheeling.

The stock guage?!

My stock guage never moved off N. I put in a mechanical guage and never looked back.

So am I reading right that even with an explorer radiator they will still get up past 200? If so I am leaving my stock radiator. I just put a new one in there about 2 years ago.

 

[grnrngr]

When it's steamin like a geyser and you hear some really loud knocking and thumping from the bottom end, it's likely to be a little too hot..

 

[MAKG]

I've had mine at 230 several times wheelin, makes me nervous but it's still fine. I need to put a 180* t-stat in, the 195 still lets it get too hot with the sploder rad.

A 180 deg thermostat will do nothing. An open thermostat is an open thermostat, and it really doesn't matter whether it opens all the way at 200 deg or 215 deg if you're running at 230 deg.

If this is at low speed (common when wheeling), suspect a blown fan clutch. Or an electric fan working as designed. If it's at all speeds, suspect a restriction.

FYI, it will often cool better at higher revs.

 

[mhughes165]

A 180 deg thermostat will do nothing. An open thermostat is an open thermostat, and it really doesn't matter whether it opens all the way at 200 deg or 215 deg if you're running at 230 deg.

If this is at low speed (common when wheeling), suspect a blown fan clutch. Or an electric fan working as designed. If it's at all speeds, suspect a restriction.

FYI, it will often cool better at higher revs.

i cant disagree more......a 180 thermo in a 2.9 is a GREAT investment, they will run better with a 180 thermo, and since the thermo opens sooner it will keep engine temperatures in the perfect range for a 2.9

 

[Jspafford]

i cant disagree more......a 180 thermo in a 2.9 is a GREAT investment, they will run better with a 180 thermo, and since the thermo opens sooner it will keep engine temperatures in the perfect range for a 2.9

If an engine is going to overheat because it cannot cool itself under certain conditions it doesn't matter when the thermostat opens. It could open at 100 degrees and would still overheat.

In theory it sounds good, in real like it makes no difference.

 

[Bob Ayers]

...Or an electric fan working as designed...

Good one Mike!!!

Justin, please don't tell us you have an e-fan on your truck!!

 

[rickcdewitt]

i cant disagree more......a 180 thermo in a 2.9 is a GREAT investment, they will run better with a 180 thermo, and since the thermo opens sooner it will keep engine temperatures in the perfect range for a 2.9

the 180 made my truck run too cold in winter

BTW my flex-a-lite ranger setup worked just fine with an explorer radiator in 100* weather towing with a 2.9l. i took it off because i broke off a few fan blades when i forgot to turn it off for deep water.the blades are replaceable but i don't know if i'de use it on the 4.0l

 

[Jspafford]

No, I don't have an e-fan and I don't plan on installing one. If the truck was meant to have one, it would. My fan spins fine where it is. Was just checking to see if there was a certain point I should not let it get past.

The blades on my stock fan have been cracked since I got the truck.

Thanks for all the good replies and the useless ones too.

 

[Syko]

If ur worried about overheating.. crank the heat on and open all the windows.. helps a quite abit. better to sweat a bit then to overheat

 

[almostclueless]

Are you saying it goes to 210 AFTER you shut it down?


That wouldn't concern me. Many engines are designed to run near that when running, and cooling systems can't do anything about temperature after shutoff.