Thread: small block overheating

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Where your coolant boils depends on the mix of antifreeze and the pressure on the system. With a 50\50 mix, the coolant would have a boiling point of approx. 225F. Adding 14 to 15 pounds of pressure to the system adds about 45F to the boiling point thus providing about 265F boil over protection. If my engine was at 225 to 230 and would not cool down with fans, then I would consider that as a little too warm, but it all depends on what type of setup you are running. Someone else on the forum may be able to explain this better as far as aluminum verses cast iron and heat tolerances. This is the extent of my knowlege. Also, if you are making 300HP and running headers for a s-10, you will most likely need to go with a custom radiator setup. I dont think the small stock rad will perform if you want to stay below 200F.Hope this helps.