Running temperature

Posted By: growlingbear

Running temperature - 07/07/2006 01:45

This is not in technical problems, because well its not a technical problem. Plus if I post it in technical problems it brings on coupe paranoia...

Anyway normally my 20vt[6] runs about 90c on the water temp gauge. In the hot weather with air con on, its hovering around the 100c mark.

Is that about right?

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 07/07/2006 02:09

On mine when travelling along gently the water temp sits at 70 degrees, when stationary it climbs up to 90 degrees at which point i think the fan kicks in. It has reached 100 degrees before when stuck in traffic but comes down after a couple of minutes of air flow.

I have a EVO FMIC and Pre-radiator for the CC in the way of the PACE alloy radiator.

John

Posted By: bockers

Re: Running temperature - 07/07/2006 02:10

Mine runs at 86 - 93.

It depends how relaible your guage is.

I am using Barnacles widget and that shows a slightly lower temp than the Coupé gauge as there are two temp sensors on the Coupe. One on the block for the gauge and one on the thermostat housing for the ECU

Are the fans kicking in OK?

John

Posted By: bockers

Re: Running temperature - 07/07/2006 02:13

Quote:

On mine when travelling along gently the water temp sits at 70 degrees

John

70 is too low and what mine was reading until i changed the thermostat. Running at 70 the car will run too rich and you risk breaking your Lambda and Cat. If the thermo is broken it will take ages to warm up too.

John

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 07/07/2006 02:15

My 16VT runs at just under 80ºC. On the thermostat itself it says 78ºC so I suppose things must be about right. It does rise when stood still probably upto 85ºC when the fan kicks in.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 07/07/2006 02:27

I had the same problem with the AC on the temperatures reached almost 100 on my gauge, while the widget read 108!!
I changed my radiator to a new one, and now it reaches 90 tops when on traffic with AC on!! Have it checked, mine was in pretty bad shape... I also have a FMIC so the air flow is not optimal to cool down, but it has done miracles!

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 07/07/2006 02:58

Quote:

On mine when travelling along gently the water temp sits at 70 degrees, when stationary it climbs up to 90 degrees at which point i think the fan kicks in.
John

Is exactly mine do. And here, Santo Domingo, is really hot these days, 24 C in the mourning and 35 in the afternoon.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 07/07/2006 04:43

Mine used to sit between 70 and 90 all the time. Now i have a Pace Chargecooler so the pre rad sits in front of the coolant rad. Runs at 80 ish most of the time but hits 90 really quickly if you hit traffic (the radiator effect of the chargecooler as it contains water - once you stop moving it just gets hotter and hotter). As long as the fans kick in at 90 all is OK and she soon cools when you get moving.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 01:52

my oil gets up to 100 in this recent hot weather ( i drive about london) and the water temp goes from 90 to 95 ish if just sitting in traffic (without bloody air con as it is knackered!)

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 04:46

i rad was old and was running around the 80 mark

fitted a new one last week and runs at 55 and rises up to 90 in a jam and had no probs at all

so im happy and so is the car

Posted By: Ed

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 04:59

If it runs at 55 your thermostat is probably knackered. Get it checked out now, you run serious risk of engine damage long term.
Normally it should run between 70 and 90, although it also depends how reliable your gauge is.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 14:02

Quote:

Anyway normally my 20vt[6] runs about 90c on the water temp gauge. In the hot weather with air con on, its hovering around the 100c mark.

Is that about right?

About right for a Coupe with a radiator older than a few years. Fit a new radiator and that should help if you want

joe

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 16:20

I have had a new Pace radiator fitted and a new thermostat within the last couple of months and mine runs at a regular 80 degrees, but then rises to 90 in traffic jams.

My old thermostat used to read about 60/65 no matter what I had done with the car (normal driving/spirited driving/traffic jams etc), and I think that helped towards the demise of my head gasket and a couple of pistons - very pricey!!

If you are getting continually low water temps regardless of how the car has been used, then I concur with Ed, get your thermostat changed ASAP.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 18:20

My 16vt sits rock solid at 70 in easy driving, rises towards 80 when pushing along or hits the fan at 90 in traffic. Water temp rises nice and quickly from cold to 70, so thermostat is fine (not failed open), so 70 degrees is not always diagnostic of problems - s'pose it depends on how well calibrated the sensor is!

Steve

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 18:26

Mine was same as you BrumSteve...
And it was damaged...Ended up giving me the injector light some times also, and the fans kicking in immediately after the car started from cold. 70 while easy driving is not normal

Posted By: bockers

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 18:30

Yes agree with Yogi, 70 is way too cold and you are killing your engine. If your engine holds out you will be killing your cat and Lambda sensor too. Get it changed, it is an easy DIY job and will save you many times over in the long run.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 19:05

Hmm, but I'm not getting any spurious fan or warning light activity, the radiator (or pipes) doesn't get warm soon after the engine starts as you'd expect if the thermostat is locked open, and in winter the temp rises nice and quickly - I still think it's just a temp sensor that reads 5-10 degrees below the actual temp.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 19:20

Oh yes, the car was only MOTd a few weeks ago and the emissions were all spot on - would they be if it was running too cold?

Nothings changed recently - the car has always run at 70 since I bought it 13 months ago (hell, what have I done to the engine if its been knackered all that time?) - its only recently I heard other people mentioning higher normal temps.

I agree its a small thing and maybe I should change it as a precaution, just that it's not caused any problems - I get easy 32 mpg cruising on mway/a-road, up to 34 once!

Steve

Posted By: bockers

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 20:04

Steve

You could be right about the sensor. You can hire a Barnacle monitor from the club, this would put your mind at rest. It would still pass the MOT as most testers leave the engine running for some time which would let the engine reach temp enen if the Thermo was knackered.
As you ay if the pipes are not hot to the rad then the thermo is not open so maybe consider changing the sensor, but then again it could be the guage. Don't you just love italian electrics

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 23:18

Quote:

If it runs at 55 your thermostat is probably knackered. Get it checked out now, you run serious risk of engine damage long term.
Normally it should run between 70 and 90, although it also depends how reliable your gauge is.

just checked it and the thermo is stuck open

so i will get one asap any ideas where to get one from

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Running temperature - 12/07/2006 23:40

Checked my display and I didn't remember that there are three marks (not one) between the 50 and 90 markings for 60,70 and 80. So mine actually sits at 80 and rises to 90 when stuck in traffic or working hard.

John

Posted By: bockers

Re: Running temperature - 13/07/2006 01:12

Quote:

Quote:

If it runs at 55 your thermostat is probably knackered. Get it checked out now, you run serious risk of engine damage long term.
Normally it should run between 70 and 90, although it also depends how reliable your gauge is.

just checked it and the thermo is stuck open

so i will get one asap any ideas where to get one from

Call steve at Alternative Autos

Posted By: Ed

Re: Running temperature - 13/07/2006 05:00

Yes! saved one