Anything and everything Spitfire.

Guys

Thanks to the list and the ongoing work on my car, I had one of the best
runs out ever. It was a lovelly day here in the UK yesterday and I managed
to get in a 100 mile run.

Only a couple of minor issues, running on after stopping and a strange thing
about the temp guage.

Followers of my ongoing saga will have seen the problems I had with the fuel
guage. This was fixed by a new fuel sender unit and a voltage stabilizer.
As some group members suggested, this would probably uncover an overheating
problem as the guages were now receiving the right voltage.

You guessed it, thats the case. Temp guage over over the top of the Hot
mark. I am somewhat suspicious though as the engine didnt seem to get that
hot.

Checked the Temp Guage sender unit and it reads the 1000ohm when cold, or
thereabouts. Got her to warm and yes it drops. Got to the hot but it
doesnt get as low as 50 ohm. Whilst warming her up in the garage, I noticed
that when I increased the revs both the fuel and temp guage rise quite
rapidly, ease off and they drop back.

Am running still with the original dynamo but it sounds like too many volts
are coming through as the revs increase. Did notice when I returned to town
yesterday that as I started driving down the back roads the temp guage
dropped.

I dont believe there are any issues with my cooling system but something
strange is occuring. Any ideas?

Martin
'63 Spit4

Think I have found the answer, I have blown another stabilizer.

Input should be 12v and output 10v, but this one is now giving the same input as output. As rev increase, input increases, output goes up and the guages go through the roof.

Is there an alternative stablizer, or does anyone know where you can source one a bit more heavy duty?

Hi,

Am after some advice and after reading your message I thought you may be able to help. I am a new member of the Tssc and have recently brought a '79 Spitfire 1500 as a project. The engine runs well but tends to overheat a bit. It has a new radiator put in by the previous owner but it still tends to run with the gauge around 3/4 to full yet the radiator isn't hot when I check it. Could it possibly be the thermostate? Any ideas, tips would be great.

Many thanks

Chris

Chris,

Just because the gauge is showing its a bit high doesnt mean it is. It's not really accurate at all - each car tends to be different. It's best to get to know your car and then see what the needle says - it's all relative.

It could be the sender is broken - or the gauge.

Does your fuel gauge work correctly? If it doesnt that would indicate a broken voltage regulator. Both gauges will over read if this is the case.

I'd try a different temp sender and see what it does - but if it exhibits no signs of actual overheating - then don't worry about it.

James

My Spit seems to like being at 3/4 hot and stays there whether I am at a steady 60 or in a traffic jam. The top end hose will suddenly become hot when the engine first reaches working tempreture which tells me the thermostat is working ok and the bottom hose cool enough to hold which tells me its not overheating. However after I've turned the engine off (and with it the water pump) the engine gets hotter cos there is now no cooling. If I turn the ignition on the temp guage go's way past hot which is to be expected. What worries me a bit is the gurgling noise for ages after made by the bleed hole in the thermostat as it lets the hot water circulate on a gravity fed basis. Should I give it a dose of fernox or a rennie?

As Philip Says the top hose will get hot if the thermostat is opening. But if you are in doubt then it is simple enough to check by taking it out and dropping it into a pan of boiling water to see if it opens. You'll probably need to replace the gasket after this though.

Phil

Section : Cooling

Too Hot!!!

Followups :

Too Hot!!!

Too Hot!!!

Too Hot!!!

Too Hot!!!

Too Hot!!!