I have an '88 Formula Firebird with the 5 Liter TPI Engine. It has always run at about 190 to 215 degrees. Occasionally it would go up a little over 220 if I was sitting in traffic or something like that. Just recently it has started running at about 220 to 235 degrees.
It seems the faster I go the hotter it runs. This is a little too hot for comfort considering that if the thing had a normally calibrated temp gauge it would be nearly pinned at this temp . My first thought is to back flush the radiator and change the thermostat (PITA). I have a feeling this will not fix it though. Any ideas out there ?
My Temp gauge looks like this. Notice how 220 is in the middle ! This is so you won't freak out since the car runs at close to that temp. If it was calibrated correctly 220 would be almost all the way to the right. The red zone is at about 250 - 260. My car used to run where the * is. Now it runs where the ^ is.
| | | | * | ^ | | | | 100 220 260
Thanks for any suggestions you might have.