As I understand it, the water temperature is the guideline when going
up a
mountain grade under full load. If the water temperature is gradually
raised to the same value while driving in flat country, wouldn't the
combustion chamber temperature be the same?
No, there's a heck of a multiplier operating there, the two thermal
systems are too loosely coupled to say much about what's going on
in one versus the other. About the only thing you can say is that
if one's going up so is the other. But how much, exactly? That is
the question.
If the combustion chamber "pressure" plays a role in loosening and
burning
the carbon, then raising the water temperature/combustion chamber
temperature artifically might not work IMHO.
It certainly is a factor, I don't know how much.
their engines. Exhaust gas temperatures above (700-800 degrees F. ?)
would
do damage IIRC.
The magic number I'm aware of is 1200 degrees. See how far that is from
the 220 degrees of the water jacket?
With a bigger radiator the water temperature wouldn't even rise
as you ran it to destruction, assuming you turned up the fuel/air
business to harmful levels. It's not the water jacket temperature
that's meaningful here.
It's not the temperature per se, it's the fact that the engine is
operating at full load for extended periods of time, getting a full
charge of fuel/air at high RPM that causes the blowtorch effect in
the cylinder that cleans it out.
-- Jim
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Steve Auto Clinics in Zambia have a long and seemingly thorough discussion
of EGT versus engine life:
http://www.steves.co.za/Engine_Protection_Units_1.html
From reading it I get the impression that the typical Italian Tuneup might
be somewhat risky.
Gerry Archer
