What is the best tempeture to run a 3208 engine?

[davidkerryedwards]

On my 82 Fc 3208 NA with an aftermarket turbo, the electric fan clutch kicks in
at about
195 degrees and immediately starts dropping the temperature. (I haven't
installed the
manual switch overrride yet but I will). When climbing grades in temperatures
above the
mid-90's the clutch almost always kicks in and reduces the temperature. If the
temperature of the engine kept climbing, instead of dropping, I'd slow down or
pull over
and let it cool down for a while. This has never happened to me.
I also think it is quite premature to conclude that Andy's problems were caused
by high
coolant temperatures when climbing grades in hot weather. I don't think anyone
knows
why the head gasket failed. It's possible that the head gasket failed first,
causing higher
coolant temperatures. It seems extremely unlikely to me that running a 3208 at
200
degrees, which is the temperature that Andy reported, would by itself cause
headgasket
failure. Headgaskets do fail, and a google shows reports of people replacing
headgaskets
on 3208s.
I think there's an odd combination of events associated with Andy's problems
that should
be considered. He reported repeated problems with belts coming off earlier this
year,
then he had a fan clutch bearing failure,then he had a water pump failure,
replaced it, then
had the head gasket failure. Alll those items are associated with the cooling
system.
There's something odd going on. I'd want to try to figure out if these problems
are related
and perhaps have a common cause. He also said his coolant lines to the rest of
the coach
were disconnected. Is it possible that blocking those lines can cause
inadequate coolant
circulation or high pressure leading to the other problems?

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" wrote:
>
> Just completed reading about Andy's trouble up in Reno and was
> wondering at what temperature should these old 3208'S run at?
>
> And I have just drove down to California from Washington and the
> average temperature outside during the day coming down I-5 in Redding
> were over 100 degrees. Could this possibly have cause part of his
> problems with this heat situation?
>
> Also is there anything that you can use in your coolant to lubricate
> the water pump?
>
> Oh yes one more thing, would you think when you are in really hot
> weather it would be better to run your machine at night to wherever
> your going?
>
> Jon
> Rebel Bird
>