Run hotter in salt water compared to freshwater?

[fishingdan]

Is there any reason for an 4.3lx would run hotter in saltwater than it does in freshwater? It isn't overheating, but I do notice a difference (~20 degrees f).

 

[EricR]

Re: Run hotter in salt water compared to freshwater?

Are you comparing apples to apples here?

If you were in fresh water on a 60* day with 60* water and it ran 160* cooling water temp, then you drive to the coast in August on a 90* day and the sea water temp is 85*, yeah it's going to run hotter.

Here in Savannah we can have 87* water in the sounds and rivers in the summer months, and in the 40's in the winter.

Keep in mind, a thermostat working properly only controls how COLD your engine will run once open fully, not how HOT it will run, that is controlled by the capacity of the cooling system, the temparature of the water (raw water) and the air temp.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Run hotter in salt water compared to freshwater?

Excellent points Eric especially the point about the thermostat. While there hasn't been a big difference (at least I don't recall seeing it), there were probably days where there was a 10* difference.

Thanks