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kxmotox247 · 04-05-2014, 08:57 PM

You're going to get a lot of opinions on this one. I feel the most comfortable when my engines are in the 180-200 degree range.

Where is your sending unit mounted? In my street rod I have two sending units... one in the head and one in the intake near the thermostat. I have a toggle switch that I can flip to view the difference in temps. The head always runs hotter than the temp near the thermostat. Radiator companies will tell you that the best place to check the temp is near the thermostat since you're getting an overall average temp of the coolant returning to the radiator. With the sending unit in the head, some people believe that being that close to the exhaust in the head... you'll see higher temps than what they actually are.
My opinion is 185-195. But I'll make way for others to chime in.

04-05-2014, 08:57 PM	#2
kxmotox247 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 1,396	Re: Optimal Coolant Temps Question...... You're going to get a lot of opinions on this one. I feel the most comfortable when my engines are in the 180-200 degree range. Where is your sending unit mounted? In my street rod I have two sending units... one in the head and one in the intake near the thermostat. I have a toggle switch that I can flip to view the difference in temps. The head always runs hotter than the temp near the thermostat. Radiator companies will tell you that the best place to check the temp is near the thermostat since you're getting an overall average temp of the coolant returning to the radiator. With the sending unit in the head, some people believe that being that close to the exhaust in the head... you'll see higher temps than what they actually are. My opinion is 185-195. But I'll make way for others to chime in.