Running Hot on the Highway Options

[NJ914Guy]

My car is a 1973 914 2.0 running dual Weber 40 carbs, an Aircooled.net SVDA vac advance distributor (vac port connected to dual carbs) and a Pertronix electronic ignition module.

Here in NJ, on a 80-90 degree day, the car runs great on the back roads ranging from 30-45 MPH. Using the dip stick temp gauge, she runs around 180-195 for oil temp. If I take her up ont the highway and run the car at 65-80 MPH for 10-20 minutes, the temp will run up to 220-240, based on the outside air temps, which seems too hot.

I assume that since I am fine on the back roads, my flaps and fan are clear and working fine? I do have 100% of the factory tins in place, and from 180-240 degrees, the car runs strong at all temps.

I am thinking that I have a problem and would like to rule out some things. Here's my list of things to try. Please feel free to comment or make additional suggestions.

1. Change oil. I am running 10W-30 now. Have some fresh Brad Penn 20W-50 on hand. Could an oil change help?
2. Drop the oil screen and check for any sludge or blockage which may be impacting oil flow.
3. Check timing on the SVDA dizzy. I am wondering if it's advancing a little too much on the highway? Per John's instruction, when we installed the dizzy we set timing to: 38-45 Total Advance (hose connected) @ 3500 RPM.
4. Pull spark plugs and check for lean conditions.
5. Check carbs and idle jets. Not sure what's in there, but I hear that I want idle jets of 50.

[Woody]

Ape who are you? What are your credentials? All you do is come in, talk shit, and try to disprove others. Wtf? You have an answer for everything but it seems all your posts are just an attempt at contradiction. It gets old and nobody seems to like you. I am certainly no 914 God but PCNA respects my opinion and takes it without question. Can you please try to explain your obviously superior background to the rest of us so we can try to filter out the bullshit from others?

Your friend Jon.

[ape914]

Ape who are you? What are your credentials? All you do is come in, talk shit, and try to disprove others. Wtf? You have an answer for everything but it seems all your posts are just an attempt at contradiction. It gets old and nobody seems to like you. I am certainly no 914 God but PCNA respects my opinion and takes it without question. Can you please try to explain your obviously superior background to the rest of us so we can try to filter out the bullshit from others?

Your friend Jon.

Dear friend jon. i never tried to disprove anybody. i simply suggested trying a richer mixture, some one later said it was a misconception to run richer and two other folk added with no technical content, that they agreed with the person who said he prefered lean mixtures. Instead of getting into the tech details, we were told to listen to the person advocating lean mixtures for the simple reason that he cares about these engines and he has some neat gauges and built a cooling fan, and his Dad is a pilot.

I never even once tried to disprove that the person advocating lean running is wrong. In fact it is clear from his data we both are right, rich or lean running can cause cool running, and I admitted that pretty clearly.

posts that in effect say to believe one set of data over another becuase it is assumed his gauges are better, or he cares more about engine cooling or his dad is a pilot have nothing to do with the technical issue and such comments are just noise that deflect the real issue of why this guys motor is running hot.

the orignal posters hot running issues probably have nothing to do with zinc in the oil but may have a to do with mixture along with other things.

for me richer made cooler running, but the original poster will need to try it to be sure, he may even try to go real lean, and see if that helps his motor stay cooler.

Never did i try to disprove racers chris's concept of lean burn, not once. What i did not like was the implication by two that I was wrong becuase I dont have good gauges, or dont care about cooling issues, both assumptions are false and needed correction.


So it turns out both me and Chris are correct dispite differances, we both have resonable gauges and experimental techniques, and both care about cooling issues.