could I have a blown head gasket?

[Street fighter]

What are some of the signs of a blow head gasket other than over heating or water in the oil? I have a 360 in my 73 charger and it seems to be reaching operating temperature faster than I can remember,it had a 160 thermostat in it and it was going to 190 on days with temperatures about 90 degrees and close to 205 sitting still,it has not boiled over but I can't recall it going that high before,the radiator is new and so is the water pump.I thought that the 160 thermostat was bad so I installed a new one only to find that it was a 195 now it goes to 200 and stays there.should I be worried? I checked temp with another gauge from my Camaro and the gauges say the same thing so it's not the gauge.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Are you losing coolant? If not, then i would say it isnt blown. If the temperature is fairly consistent and it does not spike and boil over, you are ok. Is the cap new too? Is it the same pressure as the old one if it is new?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Thank goodness you didn't blow a seal.

 

[WileE]

Leave the radiator cap off and check for air bubbles when engine reaches operating temp. Look for white smoke from your exhaust. Check color of spark plugs. What water pump / fan system do you have ?

 

[Street fighter]

Are you losing coolant? If not, then i would say it isnt blown. If the temperature is fairly consistent and it does not spike and boil over, you are ok. Is the cap new too? Is it the same pressure as the old one if it is new?

There is no coolant in oil or boil over the gauge goes to 190 and stays while running around town or on the highway but goes to 200 sitting still in traffic. the cap was a good one I say was because I have misplaced it and now need a new one.will make sure it is the right pressure one when I get it. Thanks.

 

[69Bee]

With a 195 thermostat, which is the recommended thermostat by Mopar, the engine normally runs 200 to 210 while idling. I would not worry about it unless it goes over 220 to 225 degrees.

 

[slepr1]

With a 195 thermostat, which is the recommended thermostat by Mopar,

Is this for all Mopars? In all engines? Is their some documentation on this because the mopar guys at the local junket won't believe me on this one.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Is this for all Mopars? In all engines? Is their some documentation on this because the mopar guys at the local junket won't believe me on this one.

I'm pretty sure that stock temperature on the thermostat is 180F. I don't believe the 195F thermostats (in general) became popular from OEM's until roughly 1990 or so.

 

[WileE]

195f thermostats were introduced in the 70's, for emissions purposes. Nevertheless, I've always run 180's in my own personal cars for 45 years.

 

[BL1 70 RR]

My car has the same issue, when it is warming up its around 170 but when i drive it for more then 40 miles it gets to 200ish then when I turn it off it pukes coolant and is hard to start when its warm. Could this be the thermostat?

 

[69Bee]

I digress; the 69 manual says that a 190 degree thermostat is used in all engines except for the 170 CI 6 cylinder which gets a 200 degree thermostat. The 65 manual specifies a 180 degree thermostat.

Here is a thread on a Charger forum:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=91308.0

As far as I am concerned, it is up to your personal preference, but I feel 180 to 195 is where it needs to be.

 

[PP1RT]

Have you verified the accuracy of your sending unit and gauge? These things aren't new anymore...

 

[Street fighter]

Have you verified the accuracy of your sending unit and gauge? These things aren't new anymore...

like stated in early post used aftermarket gauge out of my Camaro to check temp of charger aftermarket gauge,camaro gauge showed same as charger.I no longer use the stock gauges all aftermarket.