Tire size and temperature gauge? ('90 Celica)

First, I'd like to start off with the status of my leaking heater core
hose. I was thinking of "ghetto rigging" it just to see if the hose
needed replacement. Well, as far as I know, it didn't. I loosened the
clamp a little bit and pushed the hose closer to the firewall. It seems
that this slight move has cured my leak and has saved me $800!

Anyway, I had two new questions (unrelated).

1. How badly does changing tire sizes affect your speedometer? I was
hoping to add larger (quite larger actually, right now I have 155-60-13
and wanted to up that to 215-35-18) rims in te fall. Sometimes I think
that the tires I already have are too small (whenever I'm doing the
speed limit, everyone wants to pass me for some odd reason --haha).

2. When I drive, my temperature gauge is always point to C (cold).
However, when it is idling, it will slowly creep and sit near the
center of the temperature gauge. The vehicle doesn't seem to overheat
nor have I experienced any real troubles with it. What is causing this?
Is the vehicle really this cold?

Thanks again!

Larger overall tire height will make your odometer and speedometer read
lower than actual. There are many online calculators that will show you the
difference, or you can have it re-calibrated.

Your 155-60-13's are 20.3"
215-35-18's are 23.9"

The new wheels and tires would be about 4" larger. At 60mph, your actual MPH
would be 70.6. At 100mph, your actual would be 117.7, at 35 your actual
speed would be 41.2.

Of course, this also means your odometer will record incorrect milage. If
you drive with the wrong the wrong size for a substatial amount of time and
decide to sell the vehicle, you will need to inform the buyer that the
odometer is incorrect.

Also, please note that with 4" more overall hieght, your car will ride 2"
higher, get worse mileage, and have less power. Generally when people with
4x4's get big tires they change gear ratios to match to get back to stock
power. This may or may not be an option for you.

HTH,

Carl


<omnineko@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1157924027.374847.190290@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> First, I'd like to start off with the status of my leaking heater core
> hose. I was thinking of "ghetto rigging" it just to see if the hose
> needed replacement. Well, as far as I know, it didn't. I loosened the
> clamp a little bit and pushed the hose closer to the firewall. It seems
> that this slight move has cured my leak and has saved me $800!
>
> Anyway, I had two new questions (unrelated).
>
> 1. How badly does changing tire sizes affect your speedometer? I was
> hoping to add larger (quite larger actually, right now I have 155-60-13
> and wanted to up that to 215-35-18) rims in te fall. Sometimes I think
> that the tires I already have are too small (whenever I'm doing the
> speed limit, everyone wants to pass me for some odd reason --haha).
>
> 2. When I drive, my temperature gauge is always point to C (cold).
> However, when it is idling, it will slowly creep and sit near the
> center of the temperature gauge. The vehicle doesn't seem to overheat
> nor have I experienced any real troubles with it. What is causing this?
> Is the vehicle really this cold?
>
> Thanks again!
>[/color]

<omnineko@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1157924027.374847.190290@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> First, I'd like to start off with the status of my leaking heater core
> hose. I was thinking of "ghetto rigging" it just to see if the hose
> needed replacement. Well, as far as I know, it didn't. I loosened the
> clamp a little bit and pushed the hose closer to the firewall. It seems
> that this slight move has cured my leak and has saved me $800!
>[/color]

See, I told you that the car probably did not need a heater core! Listen to
uncle Ray!
[color=blue]
> Anyway, I had two new questions (unrelated).
>
> 1. How badly does changing tire sizes affect your speedometer? I was
> hoping to add larger (quite larger actually, right now I have 155-60-13
> and wanted to up that to 215-35-18) rims in te fall. Sometimes I think
> that the tires I already have are too small (whenever I'm doing the
> speed limit, everyone wants to pass me for some odd reason --haha).[/color]

First of all, a "rim" is the part of a wheel where the tire bead seats.
Although "rim" is often used as a synonym for "wheel," only people who are
not conversant in automotive terms use "rim" where "wheel" is the correct
term. If you want to learn about cars, learn the correct terminology.

Second, 215-35-18 refers to a tire size, not a wheel or rim size.

This link at tirerack.com
[url]http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=36[/url] will help you
calculate the effect on tire size. Tirerack.com has one of the most useful
sites I've seen, particularly when it come to information modifications.
Keep in mind that there are physical limitations to tire diameter and width,
i.e., wheel well diameter, wheel arch clearance, and rubbing on the wheel
well liners. Using wheels with the incorrect offset in order to fit a wider
tire will adverseley affect handling, stability, and wheel bearing life.
[color=blue]
> 2. When I drive, my temperature gauge is always point to C (cold).
> However, when it is idling, it will slowly creep and sit near the
> center of the temperature gauge. The vehicle doesn't seem to overheat
> nor have I experienced any real troubles with it. What is causing this?
> Is the vehicle really this cold?
>
> Thanks again!
>[/color]

Check the thermostat to see if it is stuck open or is the incorrect
temperature range.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On 10 Sep 2006 14:33:47 -0700, [email]omnineko@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
>1. How badly does changing tire sizes affect your speedometer? I was
>hoping to add larger (quite larger actually, right now I have 155-60-13
>and wanted to up that to 215-35-18) rims in te fall. Sometimes I think
>that the tires I already have are too small (whenever I'm doing the
>speed limit, everyone wants to pass me for some odd reason --haha).
>[/color]
Carl did the math - If you still want to run larger wheels, pick
something in a 17" wheel with a 35-series or 40-series tire where the
overall circumference ends up around the same. That way the
speedometer will stay closer to reality without changing the speedo
gear, and you don't have to make suspension mods, or change the final
drive gears to get back the lost acceleration.

One other thing to consider - the shorter the tire sidewall, the
easier it is to wreck the tire (cut the sidewall) and/or bend/break
the wheel when hitting potholes or frost heaves, or road debris like a
2X4 dropped in the road. And those tires aren't cheap.

Sure, they look good, but...
[color=blue]
>2. When I drive, my temperature gauge is always point to C (cold).
>However, when it is idling, it will slowly creep and sit near the
>center of the temperature gauge. The vehicle doesn't seem to overheat
>nor have I experienced any real troubles with it. What is causing this?
>Is the vehicle really this cold?[/color]

Sounds like the thermostat has failed, they are supposed to fail
open. And with the water pump always circulating at full flow and the
road draft through the radiator the engine never warms up. Except
when you are sitting still (no wind) and idling (low flow).

--<< Bruce >>--

Thank you all for your response. Bruce, I will seriously consider my
decision to get wheels. If I do get some, I'll be looking at 17's since
these may look a little better on my car anyway (being a little Celica,
I was thinking that 18's may be a lil gaudy).

And for the thermostat... I will have a look at it soon. I tried to
replace it not too long ago only to find that the place where I thought
the thermostat was, was something that was too small for the thermostat
(on the front of the engine). Could someone point me to where I could
find the water outlet on me engine?

Thanks!

Bruce L. Bergman wrote:[color=blue]
> On 10 Sep 2006 14:33:47 -0700, [email]omnineko@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
>[color=green]
> >1. How badly does changing tire sizes affect your speedometer? I was
> >hoping to add larger (quite larger actually, right now I have 155-60-13
> >and wanted to up that to 215-35-18) rims in te fall. Sometimes I think
> >that the tires I already have are too small (whenever I'm doing the
> >speed limit, everyone wants to pass me for some odd reason --haha).
> >[/color]
> Carl did the math - If you still want to run larger wheels, pick
> something in a 17" wheel with a 35-series or 40-series tire where the
> overall circumference ends up around the same. That way the
> speedometer will stay closer to reality without changing the speedo
> gear, and you don't have to make suspension mods, or change the final
> drive gears to get back the lost acceleration.
>
> One other thing to consider - the shorter the tire sidewall, the
> easier it is to wreck the tire (cut the sidewall) and/or bend/break
> the wheel when hitting potholes or frost heaves, or road debris like a
> 2X4 dropped in the road. And those tires aren't cheap.
>
> Sure, they look good, but...
>[color=green]
> >2. When I drive, my temperature gauge is always point to C (cold).
> >However, when it is idling, it will slowly creep and sit near the
> >center of the temperature gauge. The vehicle doesn't seem to overheat
> >nor have I experienced any real troubles with it. What is causing this?
> >Is the vehicle really this cold?[/color]
>
> Sounds like the thermostat has failed, they are supposed to fail
> open. And with the water pump always circulating at full flow and the
> road draft through the radiator the engine never warms up. Except
> when you are sitting still (no wind) and idling (low flow).
>
> --<< Bruce >>--[/color]

<omnineko@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1157942460.734371.172780@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Thank you all for your response. Bruce, I will seriously consider my
> decision to get wheels. If I do get some, I'll be looking at 17's since
> these may look a little better on my car anyway (being a little Celica,
> I was thinking that 18's may be a lil gaudy).
>
> And for the thermostat... I will have a look at it soon. I tried to
> replace it not too long ago only to find that the place where I thought
> the thermostat was, was something that was too small for the thermostat
> (on the front of the engine). Could someone point me to where I could
> find the water outlet on me engine?
>
> Thanks!
>[/color]

Look for the thermostat housing at or near where the upper radiator hose
enters the engine block.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[email]omnineko@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> Thank you all for your response. Bruce, I will seriously consider my
> decision to get wheels. If I do get some, I'll be looking at 17's since
> these may look a little better on my car anyway (being a little Celica,
> I was thinking that 18's may be a lil gaudy).[/color]

Head over to alltrac.net for a gallery of pictures of gen 4 and 5
celica alltracs in all states of modification, from 14s to 18s, from
'pleasantly different' to "LOOK, IVE BOLTED AN IRONING BOARD TO MY BOOT
- COOL!". One of the pics on there
should give you a good idea as to how your wheels would look, even if
they arent the same :) Anything larger than 17s tend to be a little
detrimental to handling on these cars, for a start they go wider which
introduces major tramlining problems on this car. Biggest most people
go for is 17x8 rims, 235x40x17 tyres. I have seen 18s with 30 profiles
but they rubbed inside the front arches IIRC. personally run 215x40x17s
and find i (painfully) regularly dent the alloys on potholes at 40mph
as theres so little meat on the tyre.

Glad you sorted the heater matrix. I recently spotted a similar thing
to this on my rad top-hose to thermostat connection - the clip had
loosened and the hose was hanging on by its teeth, dripping
occasionally - simple and (rare) cheap fix!


J

"Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1157982014.666300.156330@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> [email]omnineko@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:[color=green]
>> Thank you all for your response. Bruce, I will seriously consider my
>> decision to get wheels. If I do get some, I'll be looking at 17's since
>> these may look a little better on my car anyway (being a little Celica,
>> I was thinking that 18's may be a lil gaudy).[/color]
>
> Head over to alltrac.net for a gallery of pictures of gen 4 and 5
> celica alltracs in all states of modification, from 14s to 18s, from
> 'pleasantly different' to "LOOK, IVE BOLTED AN IRONING BOARD TO MY BOOT
> - COOL!". One of the pics on there
> should give you a good idea as to how your wheels would look, even if
> they arent the same :) Anything larger than 17s tend to be a little
> detrimental to handling on these cars, for a start they go wider which
> introduces major tramlining problems on this car. Biggest most people
> go for is 17x8 rims, 235x40x17 tyres. I have seen 18s with 30 profiles
> but they rubbed inside the front arches IIRC. personally run 215x40x17s
> and find i (painfully) regularly dent the alloys on potholes at 40mph
> as theres so little meat on the tyre.
>[/color]

Not to mention needing to crawl over rough road most other cars don't
even slow down driving over.

Running over the lane reflectors when changing lanes on the freeway
may eventually rattle every screw loose with 40 series tires on a
car designed for tall tires.

GL
Dan

These issues with having larger wheels and tires are rather
interesting. I have never heard of these issues.

The upper hose for the radiator. I'm assuming that would be the one
that slowly curves as it connects to an opening on the engine just to
the right of the exhaust manifold? I removed it once before and did not
find a thermostat in it. In fact, the thermostat I had originally
purchased to replace the one in my vehicle, seemed to big to fit the
housing. When I took it up to Murray's, NAPA, and AutoZone, everyone
there told me that the housing was far too small to hold a thermostat.
Where else should I be looking?

Danny G. wrote:[color=blue]
> "Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1157982014.666300.156330@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
> >
> > [email]omnineko@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:[color=darkred]
> >> Thank you all for your response. Bruce, I will seriously consider my
> >> decision to get wheels. If I do get some, I'll be looking at 17's since
> >> these may look a little better on my car anyway (being a little Celica,
> >> I was thinking that 18's may be a lil gaudy).[/color]
> >
> > Head over to alltrac.net for a gallery of pictures of gen 4 and 5
> > celica alltracs in all states of modification, from 14s to 18s, from
> > 'pleasantly different' to "LOOK, IVE BOLTED AN IRONING BOARD TO MY BOOT
> > - COOL!". One of the pics on there
> > should give you a good idea as to how your wheels would look, even if
> > they arent the same :) Anything larger than 17s tend to be a little
> > detrimental to handling on these cars, for a start they go wider which
> > introduces major tramlining problems on this car. Biggest most people
> > go for is 17x8 rims, 235x40x17 tyres. I have seen 18s with 30 profiles
> > but they rubbed inside the front arches IIRC. personally run 215x40x17s
> > and find i (painfully) regularly dent the alloys on potholes at 40mph
> > as theres so little meat on the tyre.
> >[/color]
>
> Not to mention needing to crawl over rough road most other cars don't
> even slow down driving over.
>
> Running over the lane reflectors when changing lanes on the freeway
> may eventually rattle every screw loose with 40 series tires on a
> car designed for tall tires.
>
> GL
> Dan[/color]

Danny G. wrote:[color=blue]
> "Coyoteboy" <coyoteboyuk@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1157982014.666300.156330@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
> Running over the lane reflectors when changing lanes on the freeway
> may eventually rattle every screw loose with 40 series tires on a
> car designed for tall tires.[/color]

Nahh its not THAT bad lol. Drop to 30s and it is but 40s is still
plenty of meat for that kinda thing. Its only really potholes that
cause issues. And rough roads, but in the UK we only have potholes. And
with 40s on the steering response is so much crisper you can dodge them
most of the time lol.

When I tried to replace the thermostat, I did locate the upper radiator
hose. When I removed the housing from the motor, there was no
thermostat there. In fact, I took the housing to NAPA, Murray's, as
well as AutoZone and they all told me that the housing was too small to
be a housing for a thermostat. I checked with the thermostat and saw
there was no way that THAT could fit into the housing that I removed.
Where else should I look for the thermostat housing?

The weather is quickly becoming cooler and my guess is that I shouldn't
have a thermostat that is stuck open as the weather drops in temp.

Ray O wrote:[color=blue]
> <omnineko@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1157942460.734371.172780@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
> > Thank you all for your response. Bruce, I will seriously consider my
> > decision to get wheels. If I do get some, I'll be looking at 17's since
> > these may look a little better on my car anyway (being a little Celica,
> > I was thinking that 18's may be a lil gaudy).
> >
> > And for the thermostat... I will have a look at it soon. I tried to
> > replace it not too long ago only to find that the place where I thought
> > the thermostat was, was something that was too small for the thermostat
> > (on the front of the engine). Could someone point me to where I could
> > find the water outlet on me engine?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >[/color]
>
> Look for the thermostat housing at or near where the upper radiator hose
> enters the engine block.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]

I believe the thermostat on my 92 Corolla Wagon is where the Bottom
Hose goes into the block. Your's may be the same...



On 12 Sep 2006 16:34:41 -0700, [email]omnineko@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
>When I tried to replace the thermostat, I did locate the upper radiator
>hose. When I removed the housing from the motor, there was no
>thermostat there. In fact, I took the housing to NAPA, Murray's, as
>well as AutoZone and they all told me that the housing was too small to
>be a housing for a thermostat. I checked with the thermostat and saw
>there was no way that THAT could fit into the housing that I removed.
>Where else should I look for the thermostat housing?
>
>The weather is quickly becoming cooler and my guess is that I shouldn't
>have a thermostat that is stuck open as the weather drops in temp.
>
>Ray O wrote:[color=green]
>> <omnineko@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1157942460.734371.172780@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>> > Thank you all for your response. Bruce, I will seriously consider my
>> > decision to get wheels. If I do get some, I'll be looking at 17's since
>> > these may look a little better on my car anyway (being a little Celica,
>> > I was thinking that 18's may be a lil gaudy).
>> >
>> > And for the thermostat... I will have a look at it soon. I tried to
>> > replace it not too long ago only to find that the place where I thought
>> > the thermostat was, was something that was too small for the thermostat
>> > (on the front of the engine). Could someone point me to where I could
>> > find the water outlet on me engine?
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >[/color]
>>
>> Look for the thermostat housing at or near where the upper radiator hose
>> enters the engine block.
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color][/color]

--

Scott in Florida

'The Land of the Free. Thanks to the Brave'

"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message
news:qlneg2d2qr2ge1j45d2h33qso5n5fnk99k@4ax.com...[color=blue]
>I believe the thermostat on my 92 Corolla Wagon is where the Bottom
> Hose goes into the block. Your's may be the same...
>[/color]
LOL! That would be my next guess.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)