EcoBoost Cylinder Head Temp / Coolant / Fan Values

[emericA243]

Ive read through numerous threads to gain as much knowledge as I can but im still trying to find some answers. I have a 16 EB PP w/ 14k miles with a few upgrades(IC, FordPerf tune, Catback, etc). I don't know if its all in my head lately because im so used to looking at my Gauge details on the instrument cluster but I feel like my car is getting hotter then i normally think it has in the past year of ownership. Recently I've noticed temperatures seem high to me. Normal backroad driving ~30-40mph with stop signs and lights yield on average around 200F CHT. Ive even seen 212F. But thats without even ripping on the car and a not so terrible hot day. I swear i always used to see the car like average ~190F or so, even with some spirited driving.

I know when I turn on the AC, the temp averages 175-185F with slow\stop-go driving. I understand this is probably because with the AC on, the rans also kick on by design which is helping with the coolant\engine cooling.

Questions i'm looking to get answered....
1. What is the expected\normal\safe CHT range on this car on daily driving in XXX conditions?
2. At what temperature do the radiator fans kick on?
3. How much hotter is the CHT temp compared to coolant temp?
4. Does anyone know any PIDS to monitor on the mustang for when the radiator fans are running vs not?

I guess im just trying to understand what temperatures i should be concerned about, what should be normal, what isnt normal. And making sure the fans are kicking on when they are supposed to and being able to simulate \ monitor that ( I have forscan which is why i was asking at what temp do the fans kick on and if there are any PID\computer values that i can monitor to confirm its physically happening)

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[lacanteen]

I don't have my gauges displayed all of the time but I've never seen CHT over 200F. Even on an extended idle, never seen over 200. You may want to test your air flows and the coolant quality. I wish I can be more helpful. I'll try to pay more attention this weekend, especially if on a speed burst.

 

[kent0464]

Did the elevated temps start after the tune?

 

[lacanteen]

Here are two pics from yesterday. The first is after driving for 45 minutes on back roads 45-60 MPH. The bottom one is after I got home and was on the phone and idled for 20 minutes. The only difference is the expected increase in intake temp. Also note that the ambient temperature was 98F.

 

[speedfrk]

If you have grill shutters, maybe they aren't opening properly?

 

[emericA243]

I don't have my gauges displayed all of the time but I've never seen CHT over 200F. Even on an extended idle, never seen over 200. You may want to test your air flows and the coolant quality. I wish I can be more helpful. I'll try to pay more attention this weekend, especially if on a speed burst.

Thanks for the input.

Did the elevated temps start after the tune?

Nope, ive been tuned for over a year.

Here are two pics from yesterday. The first is after driving for 45 minutes on back roads 45-60 MPH. The bottom one is after I got home and was on the phone and idled for 20 minutes. The only difference is the expected increase in intake temp. Also note that the ambient temperature was 98F.

Thanks for the data, I will try to simulate the same sometime this week and report back my values.

If you have grill shutters, maybe they aren't opening properly?

I actually have the whole assembly removed to fit my custom grille.

 

[kent0464]

Well your replies knocked a bunch of possibles out, so here’s a few more:
1. If it’s still the original coolant, change it, it does deteriorate over time.
2. Same for the radiator cap, they don’t last forever.
3. Temp sensor for the fan may have deteriorated in performance.
4. Relay for the fan operating intermittently, it does happen, and can be a bitch to trace down.
5. The temp elevated slightly due to the tune and you just recently noticed it. A tune with more aggressive timing and/or more boost pressure will raise Cylinder head temps and EGT’s. My SVO would give you a heart attack, I see CHT @ 300+ deg and EGT’s over 1490 deg, making 535.4 RWHP. @ 28 psi

Anyway that’s all I’ve got, if it was a hairline crack in the block, bad valve seal, etc you’d have more symptoms.

 

[Ebm]

I'm confused. I don't see anything alarming with what you're saying. I think it sounds normal.

When I had my '16 ecoboost my CHT's were around 195 F on the freeway, 205-217 F in stop & go, and it even got up to 220-225 F when it was parked. It can get hot and humid here in NC.

 

[emericA243]

Well your replies knocked a bunch of possibles out, so here’s a few more:
1. If it’s still the original coolant, change it, it does deteriorate over time.
2. Same for the radiator cap, they don’t last forever.
3. Temp sensor for the fan may have deteriorated in performance.
4. Relay for the fan operating intermittently, it does happen, and can be a bitch to trace down.
5. The temp elevated slightly due to the tune and you just recently noticed it. A tune with more aggressive timing and/or more boost pressure will raise Cylinder head temps and EGT’s. My SVO would give you a heart attack, I see CHT @ 300+ deg and EGT’s over 1490 deg, making 535.4 RWHP. @ 28 psi

Anyway that’s all I’ve got, if it was a hairline crack in the block, bad valve seal, etc you’d have more symptoms.

1. The car\coolant only has 14k miles on it.
2. The car\cap is only 3 years old...
3. I just found that apparently for the 16 EB the fan comes on at 220F. Which is why I never seen it come on itsself yet. I never let the engine get that hot. I would always turn on the AC once i saw 215F at one point thinking it was going to overheat.
Mustang Gen Thermostat Temp Fan On/Off
Foxbody (1979-1993) 190 -
SN95 (1994-1998) 180 221/-220
S197 (2005-2014) 180 228/-216
S550 (2015-2019) 180 228/-216
4. Dont think this is applicable now knowing the above.
5. This might be entirely somewhat whats going on. I would normally drive with the AC always on (summer). Now that its cooler temps outside and i dont have it on, the fans arent running so i happened to notice the higher temperature reading of 190-215. 300+ degrees? I thought 250F was the upper end range to be concerned about with these engines...?

I'm confused. I don't see anything alarming with what you're saying. I think it sounds normal.

When I had my '16 ecoboost my CHT's were around 195 F on the freeway, 205-217 F in stop & go, and it even got up to 220-225 F when it was parked. It can get hot and humid here in NC.

You might be right... I see alot of talk about these average temps. And i might just be thinking somethings wrong because of what I said in #5 above. Whats concerned me I guess is at 60F outside temp, with constant 35-40mph driving, it stays at 175-180F. As soon as I stop\park\idle for 5 minutes, it would be up at 205-210F. And i'm so used to seeing it always be around 180-190 max, even when idling, because ive always usually had the AC on as well which has hte fans going, keeping the temps down.

 

[Ebm]

1. The car\coolant only has 14k miles on it.
2. The car\cap is only 3 years old...
3. I just found that apparently for the 16 EB the fan comes on at 220F. Which is why I never seen it come on itsself yet. I never let the engine get that hot. I would always turn on the AC once i saw 215F at one point thinking it was going to overheat.
Mustang Gen Thermostat Temp Fan On/Off
Foxbody (1979-1993) 190 -
SN95 (1994-1998) 180 221/-220
S197 (2005-2014) 180 228/-216
S550 (2015-2019) 180 228/-216
4. Dont think this is applicable now knowing the above.
5. This might be entirely somewhat whats going on. I would normally drive with the AC always on (summer). Now that its cooler temps outside and i dont have it on, the fans arent running so i happened to notice the higher temperature reading of 190-215. 300+ degrees? I thought 250F was the upper end range to be concerned about with these engines...?



You might be right... I see alot of talk about these average temps. And i might just be thinking somethings wrong because of what I said in #5 above. Whats concerned me I guess is at 60F outside temp, with constant 35-40mph driving, it stays at 175-180F. As soon as I stop\park\idle for 5 minutes, it would be up at 205-210F. And i'm so used to seeing it always be around 180-190 max, even when idling, because ive always usually had the AC on as well which has hte fans going, keeping the temps down.

I understand your concern, but based on what you've said, there is nothing with your car.

I prefer the windows to the a/c. Just a fan of the natural breeze. So naturally I've had the fans off while driving a lot. The reason why it gets so hot? 2 things: emissions and fuel mileage.

Hotter in this case means cleaner when it comes to emissions. There's a certain degree range that is most efficient for fuel mileage as well.

 

[emericA243]

I understand your concern, but based on what you've said, there is nothing with your car.

I prefer the windows to the a/c. Just a fan of the natural breeze. So naturally I've had the fans off while driving a lot. The reason why it gets so hot? 2 things: emissions and fuel mileage.

Hotter in this case means cleaner when it comes to emissions. There's a certain degree range that is most efficient for fuel mileage as well.

Well youre definitely atleast making me feel better. So I just took the car out with the following results.

1. Started car, let it idle\warm up to 120F CHT.
-CHT 120F
-IAT 77F
-Outside Temp 80F

2. Drove a mile with constant movement 25-45mph. During this time, the following values below were noted.
-CHT 178-180F
-IAT 91F
-Outside Temp 82F

3. Hit first red light for a few minutes. Before going the following values were noted.
-CHT 183F
-IAT 91F
-Outside Temp 83F

4. Parked the car ,went into the store then left 30 minutes later. Drove a few miles back home. As I entered the garage and idled for 5 minutes the following values were the last recorded.
-CHT 193F
-IAT 89F
-Outside Temp 82F

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