normal engine operating temperature

[gopiqpp]

I just had the thermostat replaced in my 88 Colony Park. Earlier the temp used to read at about 80 C while driving with the AC on; after installing the thermostat it shows 93C. What is the normal operating temperature for this engine? The ambient temperature in Saudi summer is quite high, between 40 to 50C.

[gadget73]

Thats pretty much normal. Likely someone had a colder thermostat in before, and you have the correct temperature now. Stock thermostat is 190 or 195F, which is 88 or 90 C. A few degrees above that is fine. Under 100C is no problem.

[gopiqpp]

Thank you

[sly]

temp may go as high as 270F (132C) under load with AC running.. and even a little higher in traffic, but not much more than that. With the proper radiator cap and everything else in working order, this is also fine. My 88 does this all the time here in Texas, in traffic in the summer.

[gopiqpp]

OK. Thats a relief to know. I tend to panic slightly everytime it goes to 100 and switch off the AC till the needle drops. Luckily though, all my trips are long distance on the highway to the town and back with very limited traffic.

[BerniniCaCO3]

also, the stock gauge isn't 100% accurate.
I have two of these wagons and they're both in a different part of 'normal.'
Nor are the thermostats always spot on. I'd changed thermostats a couple times, and each had a slightly different idea of 95C.
The important thing is that it remain fairly steady in whatever part of 'normal' it chooses to rest, and doesn't fluctuate higher too often or too high.

When it started creeping towards red in traffic though, then I figured out I had a clogged radiator (it was original). The coolant had been rusty when I bought the car, a telling sign, and sure enough a new radiator fixed it. That was 3 years ago.
Where I live it never goes over 105F-- and that is a major and unusual heat wave.

And, btw, very cool to see one of these cars in saudi arabia of all places! How did one end up there? They were just sort of the quintessential family vehicle of the last generation here in the states; that maybe I would have grown up in (except we were poorer and had a smaller station wagon back in 1988 than a colony park). Not something that was widely exported.

[gopiqpp]

These Colony Parks were imported by my company from the plant in Ontario, Canada in 1989 for use by the managerial staff. They auctioned them off after 5 years and I got one.

[Mike_Windsor]

I had an aftermarket gauge put on just recently and my car seems to go to about 205F, then settle at about 195F.

[sly]

I think my gauges are a little off. Might be a voltage issue in the comparator in the gauge for me. I'll check with my laser thermometer one of these days if I can remember to do so when I get home and let you know what the real temp is at the sensor. They are cheapo gauges that I have.

[sly]

finally remembered to post my findings... I was misreading my gauge. it was actually reading around 215 (220 when it gets real hot outside). The laser thermometer shows 205 on the sensor when my gauge was showing about 215. I know I had it up to 230 year before last when we had the record number of 100+ degree days. No ill effects. So ignore the numbers I posted earlier... they're all high by about 40F. You should be able to see 110C without issue as long as the cooling system is in good repair (good hoses and radiator).