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Old 06-02-2009   #28
Aurora40
 
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 2,704
Default Re: Correct engine coolant temperature

Quote:
Originally Posted by QB93Z View Post
In both cars when cruising at about 55 mph in sixth gear (about 1600 to 1800 rpm, the coolant temperature will rise to around 225. If I shift to fifth gear, (>2000 rpm) the temperature immediately drops to around 203-205.
Jim, I don't believe this is coolant bypassing the radiator. That should only happen when the pressure gets high.

I posted about this on the listserv a while back. I believe it is related to the flow capacity of the pump at low rpms. Graham Behan sent me a chart of the flow rating at various rpms, and mentioned it was likely that at those lower rpms, the pump does not flow enough. This is why downshifting helps.
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