Hot day, warm motor

Just for reference, I have a 1883 stroker motor, dog house cooler, external Oil radiator(No fans) and remote filter. My temperatures have typically been 185-190 on a 85 degree day. Today hit 105 in lovely Vacaville, and after tooling (stop and go) around town fro an hour, my engine temp was 45% ( almost in the middle of the gauge) my themometer dip stick read 220. Is that about average for the ambient of 105 degrees ?

Gary: As in everything else, "it depends":

on altitude (sea level is better), outside air pressure, oil type (regular vs. synthetic), 356 vs. stock VW fan pulley and such, but,
for a 105 F day, a 220 F oil temp, while high, is still within "working range" in my book. I suppose you could see a small decrease if you were to change to Synthetic 10W-40 or 20W-50, but how many 105 degree days will you see each season? I remember George commenting on here that racing 356's typically run 230 F (!!)

I think you're doing pretty well at that temp. Does it drop a little if you're running a steady 50 mph or so?

Gary,

I have basically the same engine you have however I have a Fan on the External Oil Cooler.

The temp in the Central San Juaquin Valley is routinely 100-106 Degrees with about 7-11% Humidity average.

I have an "Annalog Oil Temp Gauge" and as long as I keep the engine under 3,000 RPM the Oil Temp is 200 Degrgee on days over 100 Degrees.

If I operate the engine over 3,000 RPM the engine Oil Temp will reach 230 Degrees. My 1969 IRS Transaxel has I believe a 4:12 Final Drive Ratio and 3,200 RPM amounts to 70+ Miles Per Hour. On Ambient Air Temp Days over 100 Degrees, I watch the speed so the Oil Temp will be kept under check. I'm testing Kendal GT-1 40W Oil currently and have tested various other types of oil. Castrol 40W & Kendal 40W are similar and have provided the best test results so far. Valvoline Worst and Penns next. After this test, I'm testing Redline Systhetic 20-50 then Torko Oil next.

As for the 356 Driven Fan Shroud Pulley, I haven't considered this install due to the "Fan Curve" of the VW Fan. I don't know the design of the 356 Fan and with the 356 Fan Pulley appearntly being smaller in diameter, you could "Spin" the VW Fan at a too fast of RPM and exceed the "Fan Curve Design".

The Oil Temp you are experiencing seems within limits and shouldn't be of concern.

However, I will not operate my engine if the Oil Temp exceeds 230 degrees.

I believe you could Sieze the Engine if the Oil reaches 240 degrees +.

Good Luck,

Jack Blake

Jack, the 356/912 alternator pulley option increases fan speed by 11 to 12 percent; the fan's "stall speed" will not be reached unless you run fairly high RPM, in which case a welded and balanced fan should be used.

Porsche did something similar with the super 90 engine - fan speed was increased by about 10% over that used for 1600 and 1600 super engines to improve cooling.

Gary, one thing you might consider besides the smaller pulley is the air flow through the oil cooler is less at low speeds, and a fan on it might help.
Eddie

Hey Gordon havent been on for a while, and hello to everyone else.

I am now in phoenix and had a few overheating issues even in Omaha before i moved. btw, phoenix is 100 feet higher than omaha :)

I havent driven the car in the heat of the day down here, only at night. If i go anywhere over 45 mph the engine heats to what reads on my gauge at 230-230+. However, there is still what reads at 7-10psi of oil pressure at idle and normal at cruise. I think ill be getting a dipstick gauge as i dont trust the indash.

I run synthetic 50 weight racing oil.

Cause for heat... ??

I think that my fan might possibly be dirty from my past breather mount location got oil all over the engine bay, maybe on the fan?
I still need to check my valve adjustment... i run 92 octane with octane boost.

The car runs pretty rough at startup and wont idle right away very well... once it gets warm it runs great, when it's hot, it runs even better (smoother) but i think i've got more power at colder temps. But when it's hot it idles perfectly and will still accelerate fine...

Im also at about 3800 rpm at 70mph cruise on the interstate, the heat level does not raise too far above that 230 mark but does cool when i get off the interstate and go back to the 'sideroads' - that mean i have the same final drive as listed above? i have an external oil cooler with fan and thermostat, not on yet, also a dual oil filter remote mount. I'm thinking that with the dual oil filters, the cooler and fan, all that extra oil etc... will keep me at 220 even on hot days down here? should i think of getting a better fan and pulley? I got tired of worrying about it so i figured, if I hurt the engine and it really is getting this hot, I'll just buy a new one LOL... until then, it gets driven as is and better deal with it... hehe

Nic, sounds like you're carbs are jetted too lean, at least the idle jets - this can cause higher operating temps. Irregular running at startup (cold) that smooths out when hot is usually a lean idle jet, partially clogged idle jet, low float level, or vacuum leak symptom.

Thanks for the practical tip George. Here in the central IL area, we never really did have guys that were very good with jetting "furrin'" carbs. A good carb guy here used to mean somebody who could tear down the quadrajet, and soak it in carb cleaner, and reassmeble it with new gaskets. You couldn't even find that guy any more if you looked for him.

Any chance of a recommendation for a book on proper jetting- I know an A/F meter is the cat's meow, but there are things that one would need to know even with the meter. In the absence of a book, a post in the knowledge section would be great.