Engine running cold, what to check?

[beschouten]

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

[beschouten]

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

[Windsor4273]

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

[beschouten]

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

[Dave 86 930 Fl]

Originally Posted by Windsor4273

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

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 .