1700 X-flow water temperature.

1700 X-flow water temperature.

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Discussion

JB052

Original Poster:

156 posts

222 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Our 1700 X-flow seems to run at about 60-C increases slightly in traffic. I presume this is to low any ideas what the correct running temperature should be?

Would it be worth replacing the sender unit and thermostat.

Aeroscreens

457 posts

226 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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My old x/flow used to run around 80 and climbing to 90 in traffic. If thermostat is stuck then wouldn't you expect to see temps too high? Pretty sure I used to run with a 74 deg thermostat. No harm in changing the sender as a starting point.

JB052

Original Poster:

156 posts

222 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
quotequote all
Aeroscreens said:
My old x/flow used to run around 80 and climbing to 90 in traffic. If thermostat is stuck then wouldn't you expect to see temps too high? Pretty sure I used to run with a 74 deg thermostat. No harm in changing the sender as a starting point.
Thanks for the confirmation, 80-90 is where I would expect the temp to be. I wondered if the thermostat was stuck open would it run cold, but thinking it through it's more likely it would just be slow to warm up. I will watch the gauge more closely during warm up to see if there is any sign of the stat opening.

Aeroscreens

457 posts

226 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Best way to check the thermostat is to take it out and stick in a pan of boiling water and check that it opens and then remove it to check it closes as it cools.

henriklyck

11 posts

95 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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Hi,
My crossflow runs @ 80°C, it warms up quite fast, my guess is around 4-5 km.
B.R.
Henrik

JB052

Original Poster:

156 posts

222 months

Sunday 23rd July 2017
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Does anyone know where I can obtain the correct sender unit for the Ford Crossflow engine?

Caterham don't currently list it on their site.

CharlesElliott

2,008 posts

282 months

Sunday 23rd July 2017
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Redline in Caterham will be able to help.

Aeroscreens

457 posts

226 months

Sunday 23rd July 2017
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If Redline can't help then you'll need part ref VDO 323-095 0-120 deg

JB052

Original Poster:

156 posts

222 months

Sunday 23rd July 2017
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Thanks for the tip about Redline Charles.

Chris, part number is very useful and has the correct fitting on the end, how do you know this level of detail? Looking at your website our cars were produced quite close to each other.

Aeroscreens

457 posts

226 months

Sunday 23rd July 2017
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John,

I should qualify that part number as it is not necessarily related to the x/flow as I use the same sender in my zetec. It's a question of matching the sender to the gauge. My car is a '93 vintage and has the VDO branded gauge. I understand there is a similar sender for 0-150 deg which doesn't work with our gauges. Hope that helps.

I use the same sender for oil temp as well. How do I know, just knowledge I've gleaned over the years from club members etc


JB052

Original Poster:

156 posts

222 months

Sunday 23rd July 2017
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Thanks Chris,

One last question, do you know what Ford cars used the 1700 x/flow engine?

I have a Ford idea;ership close by, but they are confused by the terms Caterham and 1700 x/flow

BertBert

19,034 posts

211 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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No ford cars used the 1700 xlow as standard as it wasn't a standard engine. The 711M/1600 block engine came about in 1970. Used in Cortinas, Capris and Escorts I think.

I'm not sure how the 1700 variant came about (a bored 1600 #obvs), whether Caterham did it or someone else, I know not.

Bert

Aeroscreens

457 posts

226 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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The origins of the 1700 as stated in Chris Rees' book 'Caterham Sevens'

"Peter Cooper had built a special Kent engine for a customer who ran a seven in sprints and hillclimbs. So impressed was Cooper when he tested the engine on the road that it was soon agreed to offer it as a regular option. And so the Supersprint was born in 1984. This pushrod engine was bored out to nearly 1700cc, and received lighter, larger valvesdesigned by reg Price and special springs by Clive Roberts (both were made especially for Caterham), a balanced and lightened flywheel, fully gasflowed head, high-lift camshaft, twin Weber 40DCOE carburettors and a high-pressure oil pump."

So as you can see this engine was very specific to Caterham and so I'm not surprised that a Ford dealership hasn't got a clue.

When I had my 1700 engine rebuilt in 2000 it was re-bored to 1800 (only possible with the AX block) and had other work done. If you scroll down on this page you'll find a link to Autocar's roadtrest of the Supersprint in 1985.

Equus

16,872 posts

101 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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Aeroscreens said:
My old x/flow used to run around 80 and climbing to 90 in traffic
This basically.

If your cooling system is in decent nick, you should be running an 82 degree thermostat, and the fan should kick in at about 90-92 degrees to hold it down in traffic.

JB052

Original Poster:

156 posts

222 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Thanks everyone, I have learnt a lot.