1979 1980 mercruiser 260hp 350 elbow & exhaust manifold gaskets & metal plate gasket
I want to figure this out once and for all. Last winter my engine ran very high temp around 180 to 200 degrees and higher if i went faster. I knew i had an overheating problem so i tried to keep it around 180. The brand new rebuilt engine ran hot to begin with
Anyways, this year i replaced the impeller and replaced my old welded manifolds because last year no matter how i placed my gasket's between the "raisers elbows and log style manifold" one of the two was overheating, either engine or manifolds.
With the new parts changed, everything is running nice and cooled this year. However, Ive notice my boat doesn't go past 140 degrees with a 142 degree thermostat. When my engine idles, it stays around 100 degrees. At cruising speeds its around 115 to 125. Full speed barely around 140.
I personally think my cooling system is dumping my water out just a little too fast. I DON'T have the metal gasket plates between the manifold and the raisers elbows. The reason is this. 1 dealership says you need them in fact most of them say i need them. But those guys are just "by the book" employees of the dealership and are very hard to trust. However the specialist that work strictly on boat engines dealership say my engine does need the plate gasket.
One thing is for sure, when last year i had overheating problems, the plates did keep my engine hotter but removing them caused my elbows to get hotter.
I know if i put the plates in, my engine will no longer be at 140 and below. I am sure it would be around 142 degrees to possibly 180? ? ?
So my question is do i really need the plates? Is it better to run your engine cooler or run it hotter and save some gas? How much gas does it save if you run around 160 degrees instead of 110 for example? I know the standered mercruiser manual says i need the plate for that engine but why do i keep getting two points of views?? The manual also says engine must have a 142 degree thermostat so this means the engine should be around 140-150 at it hottest point??
What do you think? Should i try with the plates now since i got a new impeller and manifolds and elbows? THANKS!
I want to figure this out once and for all. Last winter my engine ran very high temp around 180 to 200 degrees and higher if i went faster. I knew i had an overheating problem so i tried to keep it around 180. The brand new rebuilt engine ran hot to begin with
Anyways, this year i replaced the impeller and replaced my old welded manifolds because last year no matter how i placed my gasket's between the "raisers elbows and log style manifold" one of the two was overheating, either engine or manifolds.
With the new parts changed, everything is running nice and cooled this year. However, Ive notice my boat doesn't go past 140 degrees with a 142 degree thermostat. When my engine idles, it stays around 100 degrees. At cruising speeds its around 115 to 125. Full speed barely around 140.
I personally think my cooling system is dumping my water out just a little too fast. I DON'T have the metal gasket plates between the manifold and the raisers elbows. The reason is this. 1 dealership says you need them in fact most of them say i need them. But those guys are just "by the book" employees of the dealership and are very hard to trust. However the specialist that work strictly on boat engines dealership say my engine does need the plate gasket.
One thing is for sure, when last year i had overheating problems, the plates did keep my engine hotter but removing them caused my elbows to get hotter.
I know if i put the plates in, my engine will no longer be at 140 and below. I am sure it would be around 142 degrees to possibly 180? ? ?
So my question is do i really need the plates? Is it better to run your engine cooler or run it hotter and save some gas? How much gas does it save if you run around 160 degrees instead of 110 for example? I know the standered mercruiser manual says i need the plate for that engine but why do i keep getting two points of views?? The manual also says engine must have a 142 degree thermostat so this means the engine should be around 140-150 at it hottest point??
What do you think? Should i try with the plates now since i got a new impeller and manifolds and elbows? THANKS!