Hey quick question as I haven't got a 100% concrete answer on this. I know it's bad to see boost before the engine is warmed up and the rings are properly seated. Since I have temporarily switched to a 98+ front bumper with excess material cut out the car stuggles to reach above 160* ECT on cool nights/ mornings.

I am just wondering what the absolute minimum temperatures a B18 (b) should see boost at.

I have been thinking the easiest solution would be to make a block off plate for say 1/2 the rad area to see if that gets me into a stable 175-190* range while driving or am I safe at lower ECTs?

 

Your easiest solution would be to put an oem thermostat in it.

 

oem or a few C lower would be ideal.

 

As far as I know it has an OEM stat in it. I was looking at replacing as perhaps it is partially stuck open. Just wondering if anyone has had a similar situation I know usually over cooling is not an issue with turbo vs overheating. Anyone have a concrete degrees figure. Is ECT the be all and end all of indicating whether the rings are properly seated/ up to sufficient temp.

For arguments sake the OEM stat is installed and working correctly.

 

I always wait until my ect is in the 180s before I beat on it, but more important then coolant temp is oil temp. If you don't have a oil temp gauge, but you have an oil pressure gauge you can tell your oil is at operating temp when your oil pressure at idle drops and normalizes. For me that was about 20-22psi at idle.

 

Awesome thanks for the clarification I will closely monitor oil pressure as well to get a good idea and will try a new OEM stat and see where I am at.

Some cool mornings it will heat up normally while idling but once driving at part throttle ECT temps will drop to 155-160F. What's odd is that with an unmodified 94-97 front bumper this wasn't happening so maybe I have a stat that won't fully close and just the reduced airflow was keeping it up @ 175-195F.

 

on a mile car we used to run as long as our oil was pre heated, our coolant would be 80-100 and never had any issues.

 

yea double check the Tstat, its job is to regulate ECT. regardless of what type of bumper you have your temp should not drop below 175 as the Tstat will be closed and water is not flowing through the radiator