How hot does your 2.7 run
 

Just curious. I haven't even received my car yet but I'm trying to research as much as possible. Thanks

ALL flat sixes should NORMALLY run 180-210F. It's a reflection on the thermostats.....

Keeping it there depends on how hard you push it. Extra or larger oil coolers help keep it in this range.

The US delivered 2.7s suffered from the Thermal Reactors required by the EPA. Hopefully your new ride has had them removed.....

Thanks. Is it difficult to remove the Thermal Reactors? I have built several engines for vintage mustangs and shelbys but I know nothing about the 911's yet. I'm sure I will when the car arrives. Thanks.

If the engine has never been apart...yes, the nuts can be a PITA. However most 2,7s died an early death due to the excess heat.....got any history on the drive train?

Might want to consider doing a search on the subject....

Some states require them for smog...unless you get a slightly less than attentive smog tech.....

I live in MI and I think they are exempt. The engine was rebuilt about 400 miles ago. I will ask the PO. Thanks!

If it was rebuilt hopefully the studs were redone with timeserts/case savers. The heat from the TRs caused the studs to pull out of the block.

Consider Wayne's book(s) available on the site.....

Welcome to the insanity.

My 2.7 with SSIs and a front oil cooler runs right at 180 with A/C. If I get caught in a freeway jam on a summer day with temperatures in the 90 - 100 deg range, it will creep up to 205. But as soon as I'm moving again, it cools back down.

Thanks for all the replies. I think this book is coming with the car. It seems everyone I talked to about buying their car has it.

I live in MI too and my 2.7 normally runs at 170-190 degrees and never goes above 190, even driving in heavy traffic in FL when it was 85 degrees. I have the Carrera-style external oil cooler and I ran Castrol 20W50 until recently when I switched to AMSOIL 20W50, which dropped my temps by 10 degrees. I have the stock heat exchanger/exhaust and Webers.

Art, do you live near Royal Oak? Where can I get this external oil cooler? Sounds like a good mod.

chatas17,

I live in Wyandotte and work in Novi, so I spend alot of time on I-275, but I don't get to Royal Oak much. You can find the external oil coolers on the "used parts for sale" forum here and you could install it yourself if you have the tools, facility and mechanical ability. There are places that sell new oil coolers, but they are very expensive. Mine came with the car and works very well.

Thanks Art. I just checked on a new one. $568! I think I will look in the used section as you suggested. Seems easy enough to install.

Yeah, but Art, Helga keeps stranding you...I told you she wants to come down under!

JohnJL,

Very funny! Actually, Helga has been running great since I picked her up at Tab's shop on 12/22/26 and I put about 4000 miles on her since then, most notably the trip to FL the 1st week of March this year, which was a 3300 mile trip. I believe this problem is fuel/carb related and a smarter person probably could have fixed it themselves, I'm just not very smart!

I love the Webers, especially with the new engine... Helga runs strong and I'm able to enjoy the car, instead of worrying about what will break next! This latest problem is a minor blip on the radar and I'm just looking forward to driving the car again as this is prime "Porsche driving season" here in Michigan.

chatas,
The actual cooler itself you will probably be able to find used. The hard items to find are the thermostat and oil lines that run from the motor up to the front right wheelwell, which is where the cooler resides. There are kits out there that contain everything you need but they are around $1000 (thats what I bought). Before the cooler my car operated around 225 and would get up to 250 or more in traffic. It never gets above 190 now.

Jesse
76 911S

On 90 F days mine will get up around 230 in traffic. $1000 for a complete oil cooler kit is slated. That is cheap insurance when compared to a rebuild.

I had the local shop install the front oil cooler kit on my '75. It was about $1K installed, but included the cooler, all lines and the thermostat. It also involved welding a bracket to support the cooler and relocating the horns.
It was definitely worth it - before the cooler and and engine rebuild I saw temperatures in the 260 deg range(!). Now they rarely get over 180 deg.

chatas17
When I removed my reactors I used a torch on every nut and they all came off. While you are there, use heat and replace all the studs and put back using anti seize. Be careful with the heat and not melt the head. I would use heat on any exhaust being taken apart. If you can not use heat you can use a nut cracker and kroil. In fact use kroil before using heat or the cracker. It never hurts to let it soak with kroil or like spray.

Max 215F on the track on a hot day. Never over 190F on the street. I have RSR-style front oil cooler and a pretty hi-po 2.7L (240hp)

No external oil cooler - not even lines to a trombone, No A/C, thermal reactors gone, 1975 CA engine, 54K miles, never rebuilt.

Hot days - 220F taking it easy. On the track on 80 deg day - it was at 250F !

Thanks for the information on improvements with the external cooler - further rationale to make this my next expensive project.