amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter)
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
2/13/24 3:17 p.m.

Had a 1.6 race engine rebuilt. Makes great power but runs about 5* hotter measured at the back of the head than the previous engine. Heater core is bypassed. 
 

I also changed the thermostat twice now to see if there was some imprecision between them. Both resulted in the same operating temps. 
 

Any ideas on why I'm seeing the higher operating temps?

I'm getting the injectors cleaned soon in case there's an issue there. 

Tom1200
Tom1200 PowerDork
2/13/24 3:30 p.m.

More power means more heat.

That's my guess.

HotNotch
HotNotch Reader
2/13/24 3:50 p.m.

More power = more heat, and if the cylinder walls were bored, there's less cylinder liner mass to absorb the heat, so it gets passed to the coolant.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/13/24 4:44 p.m.

Same water pump impeller design?

Wicked93gs
Wicked93gs Reader
2/13/24 4:47 p.m.

Did you bypass the heater core at the same time as the new engine? My wild guess is that is your cause. The heater core acts as a mini-radiator.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/13/24 5:00 p.m.

The heater core accidentally acting as a micro-radiator even when off is one possibility...another could be an issue with how you bypassed the radiator, depending on how the coolant flow is laid out there can be a big difference between looping the lines vs. blocking them. Rubber blocking caps tend to be troublesome in my experience though.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/13/24 5:15 p.m.

You don't want to block them, that's where the bulk of the coolant flow goes before the thermostat opens. But once it's open, having the lines looped might encourage more coolant to bypass the radiator due to the decrease in restriction, and that will increase the temp. A well-chosen restrictor would probably work best. A bit of empirical testing might work. 

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/13/24 6:04 p.m.

If the bores were honed, they will have a lot more friction than broken in bores, and this will create more heat.

Ranger50
Ranger50 MegaDork
2/13/24 6:05 p.m.

Is 5 degrees really changing anything during an outing? If it's still rejecting heat... I wouldn't worry unless your already on a ragged edge.

wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L)
wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/13/24 6:07 p.m.

Sounds like  you need  a  coolant re-route

ShawnG
ShawnG MegaDork
2/13/24 6:08 p.m.

5 degrees?

Different sending unit maybe?

Did you test with a mechanical gage to verify?

Noddaz
Noddaz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/13/24 6:47 p.m.

Is it overheating?  No?

Then it is probably the new engine has a different normal than the old engine.

amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter)
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
2/15/24 11:54 a.m.
Noddaz said:

Then it is probably the new engine has a different normal than the old engine.

So it seems. 
Thanks fellas 

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