Hey, I just installed a water temp gauge. It is in celsius. Anyway, I was wondering what are the typical operating temps of a 3rd gen (stock) rx-7. By the way, its a water temp gauge, not EGT. if someone could tell me what temperature is considered "warmed up" enough to drive hard, and the temp that is considered "cooled down" enough to turn the engine off, I would be very appreciative. Sorry about the confusing sentence. Thanks.

-Jeff

 

Depending on the ambient temperature. During the summer with 90-100 F outside temp, you should see 200-220 F (94-105 C)when driven hard. The engine should be completely warmed up after the water temp rise above 160 F (72 C). There is no such thing as a cool down temp. The cool down period is to allow the turbos to drop to near engine temperature by running the coolant and oil to prevent the oil from coking. The water temp will should remain constant during that time. You can not gauge when to shut off the engine by using the water temp, that's why turbo timers uses time and not temperature feed back.

 

I don't think that's true. The water temp heats up a lot faster than the rest of the engine. I always drive several minutes before driving hard at all.

 

Looks like you need to research that answer...

 

I have a question....at what temps should I be worried about the car and shut it down? In C

 

the main thing i am worried about is the fact that we just did alot of work to the car. New engine and new radiator. Could an air bubble in the system cause water temps to go up? It was reading at 80 degrees celcius and then jumped up to 105-108 which I can only guess is that the thermostat opened up.

 

Over 110C, I would start getting concerned, 114-115C is getting into the danger zone.

 

Just convert what others have said for fahrenheit to celsius or vise versa:

T(F) = (9/5)T(C) + 32

 

yeah, I think the system needs to be burped massively. It was reading 108 degrees sitting at idle for about 20 minutes on a 70 degree day. Something is goofy.

 

Were the fans on? If they weren't it is just going to keep climbing. When my fans are on, it is impossible for my car to go over 85*C, even if im boosting up a long hill.

I always wait until about a minute after the water temp hits 80*C to start boosting. Until then it's no positive pressure and no revs above 3000. (this slow driving really makes me a danger on the road)

 

I will let you guys know tommorow. I usually use the ac+3 fan to keep the fans going all the time (no ac in car).

 

is your car full of coolant?

 

Funny this thread is brought back to life. Jeff, the original poster is now patrolling the streets daily in Baghdad. He told me that via AIM that he had engaged the enemy recently and shot up an old car or something.

 

ok, here is the full story. My car recently went through alot of work. Here is some of it that might be relevant.
1.) Mazda Reman
2.) BNR Stage III turbos
3.) Koyo radiator
4.) Supra fuel pump
5.) 1300cc injectors
6.) Power FC
I also bought a Greddy 2 row fmic and the 99 spec bumper from Rotary Extreme's group buy. The shop I had to all of the above work was not a body shop so I went to another shop for the FMIC and bumper to be installed. The car ran great comming from shop #1, I saw 85C operating temps the whole time during the drive.
It gets to shop #2 for the FMIC and bumper. They install each and pour in the coolant, and burp it once/twice. We start up the car and get it up to operating temps. I notice on the commander that it is at 85C and I have the radiator fans on with the AC switch on and it at 3 on my fans (my ac was removed). I turn the ac swtich off and I notice that the water temps start to rise a little. I rev the engine (1500 at 1/4 throttle) 3 times and the temps begin to rise to 105-108. I then shut the car off because it seems that the temps are continuing to rise (does not get past 108). When we shut the engine off we check the radiator hoses and the radiator itself. The hoses could pretty much be squeezed together and the radiator was cool to the touch. We then let the engine cool off and took of the two coolant caps and left it that way to try to let the air bleed out over night. Remember that there was no driving involved in this, only the car started and left to idle for 20 mins with 3 taps on the gas.
My questions were.
1.) what temp should the thermostat open up?
2.) what could be causing the temp to rise so much? (bad water pump, t-stat, air bubbles etc)
3.) what should I do to really test it without endangering the car?

 

btw, Ted....I hope Jeff stays safe over there....best wishes to him.

 

My temps without fans are 96/97 and 86/87 with fans on (and running Evans). I've only reached 105 in stop/go traffic but it was a result of air bubbles. I freak out if it goes over 100c.

 

so air bubbles could deffinatly cause it to heat up like that?

 

I live in the bay area at about sea level and around 84-90ºC constant. On the street in traffic... alot of traffic... I'll raise a little of course... I know its nothing to watch out for but once I hit 100 and begin raising... even though to some people its normal I know its not for me... so I guess its different to people and the area they live in.

Jeremy

 

Im at about 83-84 on my PFC with my PWR radiatior.

I was about 5 degrees warmer with the stock rad.

 

O crap.. didn't see the second page haha, well I'm with GoRacer. For some people and their climate it's normal.. but I know its not for me.

And yes air bubbles will raise your temps...

(adding to earlier post....)

 

then that is probably what it is considering it ran fine before we put on the FMIC and had to drain the radiator (that probably still had air in it from the engine instal).

 

mine runs way cooler than everything I'm seeing on here. I usually get about 65-70 celsius and sometimes it goes up to 85-90 under hard driving. Is this temp too low?

 

Yes.

All of you guys that freak out when the temps are 100C need to chill out....the stock ecu doesn't even turn the radiator fans on until 105C....

 

we had a massive burp this morning and since I have put about 40 miles on it and its running fine. The temp stabalized at around 85 and didnt really move. Thanks a bunch ryn.

Now I just have to fix my heater....boo

 

Glad it was that simple! Good luck with the new engine.