Water Temperature for a 1953 Ford F100

[Lharris]

What should the standard temperature be for a 1953 Ford F100 Pickup Truck?
It’s currently running at 210.

[JSeery]

That's a little on the warm side, but may not be an issue. The later radiators use a pressure cap in the 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 psi range. This raises the boiling point to allow the engine to run at a higher operating temperature.

"With this pressure system, the coolant is allowed to reach a higher boiling point. This higher coolant temperature reduces the loss of energy to the coolant and also assists in decreasing internal friction by maintaining a higher lubricating oil temperature."

The boiling point with pain water and 4 psi thermostats should be around 225 deg. and with a 50% mixture of antifreeze should be around 236 deg.

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by Lharris

What should the standard temperature be for a 1953 Ford F100 Pickup Truck?
It’s currently running at 210.

What source are you using to come to the conclusion that it is in fact running at 210 ?

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

What source are you using to come to the conclusion that it is in fact running at 210 ?

Good question!

[tubman]

Laser thermometers are cheap and accurate these days. I wouldn't be without one.

[Lharris]

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The water temperature gauge shows 210.

[flatford8]

Try checking it with a different method to verify the gauge you have......Mark

[flathead 53]

I have a 53 f-100 with a 51 mercury 255 flathead ,I am running 170 thermostats and I have two mechanical gages mounted under the dash ,the temp on a 90 deg day is about 185. the stock gage really is not accurate ,so I bought the two sun pro gages about twenty dollars each,and they are right on .

[leon bee]

This to me seems like an incomplete question by the original poster. 210 idling in the driveway? 210 hammering down the highway on a hot day? Cold day? All the newer cars I've had seem pretty steady on the temperature, all my old cars have a personality. Have spent a lot of time over the years messing with fans, shrouds, thermostats, etc. And worrying about radiators.

[leon bee]

Two more things, first a question: On that electronic temp gun, where do you aim that thing? Pick a spot, or cast about looking for the hottest area containing water?

Second thing is this: I'm re-doing a 53 Mercury engine now. The car sat for decades and I haven't yet figured out why it was parked. Nothing in there was really worn out. But, man, did I ever dig a lot of crud out of the block! Some of those spaces between cylinders were just about completely clogged up.

[JSeery]

1) There are several places to check the temp, but at the outlet of the head back to the radiator is the primary one. The top of the radiator would be another.

2) A ton of crud is common in flathead water jackets and an important step in prep´ing a block. You will even find a lot of core sand and wire still in there from the factory.

[leon bee]

Yeah, if I were to have a running flathead with unknown history and it really did run hot, I wouldn't be able to not think of those clogged water jackets.

My first flathead, last winter's project, runs nice and cool.