Engine Temp

[Warren]

Second question of the day, hopefully an easier one. I took delivery of a 1989 Catalina 30 today. When we ran the Universal M-25XP the engine temperature never got above 125 degrees. We only ran the engine for about a mile or two, and the water temperature was in the high 40's to low 50 degrees. The engine ran for about 45 minutes. Should we have gotten closer to 160 degrees, or would this be considered normal? We got a great flow of water out of the exhaust, and otherwise all went well.

 

[Tom Wingo]

Sounds typical

I have the same year boat and motor. It sounds typical of the setup. My motor usually runs at about 140. The water temp here the other day was 72 degrees. I might be wrong.

 

[Tim Leighton]

CHECK YOUR THERMOSTAT

Warren: I agree with Tom that fairly low water temperature is not a real problem, especially when the intake water is pretty cold. Your gauge may also be off. For peace of mind, you might check your thermostat to ensure it is working properly. Simply remove it from its housing, put it in a pot of water and bring it to a boil. As the temp of the water reaches a preset temp (each thermostat is set differently, but should be in the mid-100's), it should open. If so, it is working properly. If not, simply replace. Having said all that, you probably don't have a problem...better to run a bit cold than too hot!!Tim LeightonS/V "Magic"S. Chesapeake Bay