Chevy 350 Max operating temp

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Azrocks

Azrocks

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I've searched around a little but haven't found anything really conclusive.

What is the maximum continual operating temperature for a Chevy 350?

I finally got around to putting an Auto meter guage in and I'm sitting at around 208 degrees. I'll probably end up going with a shroud and/or aluminum four core radiator to bring things down a bit. I just don't want to hurt things in the meantime.
thanks!
 
if it is a vortec, it should be running at 195 at the lowest as these engines need to run a bit warmer to perform correctly. If it is a standard V8 I would try to get that temp down a bit, especially if it is reading that temp during normal operating conditions (ie: not hot out, non heavy use). If it is reading 208 during hot days and heavy use you are probably ok. A ford taurus and aluminum radiator I have heard are the best combo. I use a taurus fan an a stock rad recored to 4 core, has worked well for me. I only get hot in the most extreme of situations (100+ day, driving uphill in the mountains).

Noah
 
I hate Auto Meter and Auto Gage. I'm going to eventually change mine out for Stewart Warner. Much better accuracy.

I can tell you this about the minimum temps.... Motors have less wear on cylinders, pistons and rings when they run warmer. If you put in a thermostat of around 160 degrees, you'll accelerate the wear if the motor does not have operating clearances built in for it. 160 degrees is not a hard and fast line, but it is where the wear substantially starts to increase. The curve lowers as you get to 170 and then at 190 degrees is's starting to flatline. The wear is substantial at 140 degrees, by a factor of ten times or more verses 190 degrees.

This generally applies to all OEM motors. Race engines, which often have little or no warmup, have extra clearances built in. Conversely, engines designed to run hotter, like 200 to 210 degrees, may have the curve shifted so the point where wear takes off is above 160 degrees, being closer to 170 to 180 degrees. This would be a consideration with the example of the Vortec, above.
 
i would think that 260 would be when i would stop and let the motor cool... but at about 240 i would have the heater on full blast and would be off the right foot
 
mine like to hover around 212* it has gotten as hot as 260 i was sweating it a bit but it all worked out. dont ask
 
1973Guppie said:
if it is a vortec, it should be running at 195 at the lowest as these engines need to run a bit warmer to perform correctly. If it is a standard V8 I would try to get that temp down a bit, especially if it is reading that temp during normal operating conditions (ie: not hot out, non heavy use). If it is reading 208 during hot days and heavy use you are probably ok. A ford taurus and aluminum radiator I have heard are the best combo. I use a taurus fan an a stock rad recored to 4 core, has worked well for me. I only get hot in the most extreme of situations (100+ day, driving uphill in the mountains).

Noah
Click to expand...

How big is your motor? What are the max temps that you see?
 
200-212 is the optimal operating temp for a chevy v8; best power/ fuel economy, and least amount of wear.
Towing uphill in 105 degree heat I ran at at around 130-140 for a while, but a good 180 degree thermostat will keep your temp 195-212 dgrees except in the nastiest/hottest conditions.
Putting in a cooler thermostat(or removing it) can actually make your motor overheat faster...especialy if the radiator is smaller than what was designed for the V-8; could create an open loop in the cooling system, where the thermostat opens too frequently and coolent is cycling through the radiator too fast, and then entering the motor hotter and hotter...Better to increase airflow, or coolant capacity.
Also very important to have a radiator cap that holds pressure. Most newer vehicles use 10-12 pound caps. This ups the boiling temp from 220, to some rediculously high temp...once the coolant is boiling, the air bubbles that form on the heated surfaces will insulate the coolant from the block, allowing the motor to continue overheating much faster. My radiator guy told me to "downgrade" to a 7 pound cap. It will still keep the boiling point well above 240 degrees, and at a point where you are already running too hot, but the lower pressure in the system will greatly reduce the wear on hoses, and solder joints on radiators(and help repaired radiators stay repaired)
 
keep an eye on your oil pressure too...when the motor gets real hot your pressure is going to drop.before i put a tuarus fan in i was hitting 240 on hot days(wich is all summer)
 
Just put a 305 in my 67 40 with what i believe to be the stock radiator.

have a 2800 cfm fan from summit.

around 185-190 at idle and cruising below 45.

at 55-65mph around 215-225
 
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