Date:         Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:01:01 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: 80c or 87c thermostat?
Comments: To: Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <k2r1250b1e91004142022u1897081buc912dd6ed3019dcc@mail.gmail .com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 11:22 PM 4/14/2010, Shawn Wright wrote:
>which is more efficient for combustion. My Dad's twin 350s in his boat run
>around 160F (71C) even under load at 4000rpm. Would they be more efficient
>at 10C warmer? Maybe, but boaters are overly cautious (for good reason). But

If he's using salt water for cooling, even 160F is twenty degrees too
high.  Not for the engine, but because the salt starts plating out on
the cooling passages.  You might want to check with him.

If he's using fresh-water (closed-cycle) cooling then the engine
should run at its normal temp and the critical temperature is that of
the heat-exchanger fins.

We now return you to your normal programming...

Yours,
David