Engine running cold, what to check?
 

I've recently purchased a 79 sc with carrera intake / aftermarket exhaust / tbitz efi conversion kit and in trying to get it running properly found that this car won't warm up!

Temp gauge (inside, when its +120), therm-resistor head temp sensor (from efi kit) & infrared thermometer all confirm operation temp of about 110F and a max (from recorded log) of 135

Next step I see is to check the internal and external thermostat to see if the previous owner modified these. Would an open thermostat result in this type of operation? I would still expect to see some more heat. Has anyone seen anything else that would cause this that I should check?

Thanks,

Brian

Solved - The front oil cooler thermostat (a Mocal H style) was stuck closed. That in combination with "boutique" oil kept the car running cold.

My 79 has the same symptoms. How did you check the thermostat to the front cooler?

I'm sure this is not the most elegant way of handling this.

The front cooler was warm before it should have been. I drained the oil and took off the thermostat. I boiled some water and put the thermostat in, didn't see any movement. Then took it apart and found it seized up and ordered a new one.

There is a spring and valve visible when you look through the thermostat, no movement at heat = bad thermostat

some diagrams of the mocal thermo:
http://208.109.215.220/files/thermos$.pdf?Submit1=More+Information+and+Pricing

I use an optical temperature sensor and when the thermostat reaches 180 degrees I start monitoring the oil lines to the front cooler ... When I see the temps going up, I know the thermostat has opened. great to look at exhaust temps on the headers too. Brakes and tire temps at the track ... I could go on and on and on :).