cold trombone

[Goodie]

My '80SC runs fine and the temp gauge stays in the normal range (actually it barely moves much at all), but after every drive, I check the oil line as it exits the thermostat (in the RR wheel well) and it is NEVER warm. Is it just a matter of the engine/oil not reaching temp. or should the lines leading to and from the trombone cooler be getting hot during any normal drive?
I did apply heat to the oil line fittings in order to remove them (they were leaking), but I would think that the thermostat could handle some heat without damaging its components.
Please let me know if my stat is not functioning or perhaps I just need to wait until a drive on a hot day to bump up the oil temp.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[Chuck Moreland]

Ambient temps are probably not hot is Wisconsin this time of year. Good chance your thermostat is simply not opening.

You say the oil temp is normal. What is the temp reading ? You probably have the no-numbers gauge.

Shine a light to the far right of the gauge and you'll see the temp listed in degrees C.

[Eagledriver]

If the engine is not getting above 190 degrees (second mark on the temp guage), the thermostat should be closed and the lines should be cool. Wait for a hot day and then flog the car enough to get the oil hot, then check the lines.

-Andy

[80-911SC]

When I had mine out on Saturday it barely got warm .. and I am in central California ...

In the summer .. I can't touch the cooler ... well I could but contrary to some beliefs I am not an idiot ... by the way it was 80 degrees on Saturday ....

Steve

[ALXinNZ]

Track Day!

[schumicat]

You should be able to get the car to a decent temp by driving on the highway in 4th gear for a while. I had the same issue couple years ago and it turned out my external thermostat was never opening. To confirm it was bad (after doing the highway test above) I tested it by removing the plunger from the housing (it is under one of the big round slotted caps on the thermostat housing, the other one is the pressure relief valve - I used a plumber's wrench to remove the cap). Then I put it in boiling water and it still didn't open so I knew it was bad. You don't want to remove the whole thermostat housing because it is easy to damage the threads where the oil lines screw in.

[Goodie]

Thanks Guys! I agree that it just hasn't gotten warm enough to open it up. I just finished the rebuild last Fall and have yet to run it in (what I would call) "hot" weather. The needle stays in the lower "box" on the gauge (yes, this has the non-numeric gauge) or below the 190 degree mark. Is that considered the "cold" range? I assume it's OK if it climbs into the "middle" range of the gauge just as long as it doesn't get too close to the red zone.

[LWJ]

I have an 80 SC. My thermostat never opens until it is over 75-80F. Just watch the temps. Should be fine.
Larry

[Goodie]

Schmicat, Did your temp gauge climb into the "hot" zone before you determined your stat was bad? I appreciate your suggestion and will give it a try but I honestly hope I dont have to try to open up that stat! I worked on removing the lines for days being carefull not to damage the fittings/threads. Taking that top cap" off looks like it would be a major PITA...at least on my car NOTHING seems to come of with ease!

[Goodie]

...on a sort of related topic...when this stat does open up, I assume it will introduce a couple of quarts of very old/dirty oil into the system. Any way to mitigate this condition when changing oil in the future?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Goodie

...on a sort of related topic...when this stat does open up, I assume it will introduce a couple of quarts of very old/dirty oil into the system. Any way to mitigate this condition when changing oil in the future?

Same here. Suspect if you undid the front lines in the rear wheel wheel well leading to the front cooler you could blow that 200 degree oil out with a compressor but I always passed on that. :-)

Probably the best thing is if you change before putting up in the fall, run it and open the thermo and get the old out and new in.

[schumicat]

no. the oil temp has a huge range between too cold and too hot. look at the new vintage USA website and you can see what the marks on the your gauge mean in degrees.

Originally Posted by Goodie

Schmicat, Did your temp gauge climb into the "hot" zone before you determined your stat was bad? I appreciate your suggestion and will give it a try but I honestly hope I dont have to try to open up that stat! I worked on removing the lines for days being carefull not to damage the fittings/threads. Taking that top cap" off looks like it would be a major PITA...at least on my car NOTHING seems to come of with ease!

[full_garage]

Geez I thought a "Cold Trombone" was something like a "Dirty Sanchez"...

[Goodie]

All is well. Ambient just had to hit about 80 F. Now the needle just climbs to the upper edge of the "box" on the non-numeric temp gauge.
Thanks for all of the feedback..as usual.
Happy Motoring!