Bob,
With air temps near zero, the thermostat may never open to let water
into the radiator because the engine water may never be reaching 195
degrees. Air passing by the engine can be cooling the metal so much
that the water never fully warms to 'stat operating temperature.
Here in coastal Connecticut where winter temps are rarely 0, though
frequently in teens and twenties, I wrap the oil cooler with duct tape
and cover half the radiator with cardboard. That blocks enough air so
that my 195 'stat brings gauge temp up to near N just a bit slower than
it rises in warm weather. Without the tape and cardboard, engine will
never achieve N on the gauge.
Your covering radiator and oil cooler is all I can think of other than
some sort of shrouding around bottom part of engine. I'm surprised that
you are not achieving temps nearer to normal.
Have you tested the thermostat in a pan of water? It may not be
working properly. My 195 'stat keeps the needle on the right leg of N in
warm weather.
Bob
On Sat, 10 Dec 2005 00:36:45 -0500 "Bob Donahue" <bobmgtd@insightbb.com>
writes:
> My B engine has a tendency to run too cold. During the dog days of
> summer it's
> great to have the temp gauge stay right on the N. But at 60 degrees
> F the
> gauge only gets up about half way to N, and at freezing the needle
> barely gets
> off the peg and I have to run with the choke out. I've changed the
> thermostat
> (195 F) several time in vain. I'm in a situation this winter where I
> have to
> use the B as a daily driver.
>
> Some help - I covered the oil cooler and radiator with cardboard.
> This helps,
> but not enough. I'm still freezing my bippy off. The heater puts out
> good heat
> when the gauge is at N, but nada half way between L and N. Why is my
> engine so
> cold? Is this normal?
>
> The good news - She's starting up just fine on near zero mornings.
> (Ungaraged)
>
> Bob Donahue (Still Stuck in the '50s)
> Email - bobmgtd@insightbb.com
> Cars: 52 MGTD - #17639
> 71 MGB - #GHN5UB254361
> Member: NEMGTR #11470
> NAMGBR # 7-3336
> Hoosier MGB Club
> Olde Octagons of Indiana
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