Elise SC owners please read this

[kambites]

RobM77 said:

I'm pleased to say I never even knew that I keep it between 2-3k rpm on a light throttle until it reads 86, then wait for the oil to warm up before I give it full beans.

I found out when I was working on the car. Can't remember what I was doing but I was pulling the engine gradually up through the rev range with my head under the boot (while it was not particularly warm) and it suddenly started to splutter manically. Scared the hell out of me.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

An R will see a temp drop when you get it on 2nd cam if you've been pootling along before - because there's a sudden in-rush of cooler air - but if you keep pushing on on 2nd cam, then the temp will come back up (unless you've got something wrong).

Exige S - The temps are going to be different (and how it behaves) compared to an R or a non s/c Exige, because it has the inter-cooler.

[gdr]

No way induction air will cool the water temp rapidly to this extent, 2 cams or not. I've just noticed the same sudden temp drop with my new Exige PP (first time it was ever revved past 6000 rpm in fact) where temp dropped into the 70s from 88 before recovering. I also suspected dodgy thermostat and I think this is backed up by HappyDave's experience - will get dealer to sort out. As stated, this is dangerous because if water temp drops below warm up threshold, ECU will cut engine above 6000 rpm, not good if overtaking, mid corner etc. Also, sudden temp fluctuations are definitely not good for the engine.

I suspect cause is this - under low engine load, thermostat only slightly opens to limit flow through rad hence keeping engine at correct temp. If you suddenly boot it, seems to me thermostat is opening too quickly (pressure related maybe?) and a load of cool water from the radiator is suddenly dumped into the engine, hence resulting in the sudden temp drop. Of course after a while everything will equalise and temperatures recover. Not sure of details of the cooling system on Toyota, so maybe this is simplistic, but for sure not right. My previous Exige (n/a Toyota) never did this and ran pretty stable temperatures around 86/87 creeping up slowly only in traffic or under extreme track use.

[Happy Dave]

gdr said:

No way induction air will cool the water temp rapidly to this extent, 2 cams or not. I've just noticed the same sudden temp drop with my new Exige PP (first time it was ever revved past 6000 rpm in fact) where temp dropped into the 70s from 88 before recovering. I also suspected dodgy thermostat and I think this is backed up by HappyDave's experience - will get dealer to sort out. As stated, this is dangerous because if water temp drops below warm up threshold, ECU will cut engine above 6000 rpm, not good if overtaking, mid corner etc. Also, sudden temp fluctuations are definitely not good for the engine.

I suspect cause is this - under low engine load, thermostat only slightly opens to limit flow through rad hence keeping engine at correct temp. If you suddenly boot it, seems to me thermostat is opening too quickly (pressure related maybe?) and a load of cool water from the radiator is suddenly dumped into the engine, hence resulting in the sudden temp drop. Of course after a while everything will equalise and temperatures recover. Not sure of details of the cooling system on Toyota, so maybe this is simplistic, but for sure not right. My previous Exige (n/a Toyota) never did this and ran pretty stable temperatures around 86/87 creeping up slowly only in traffic or under extreme track use.

<snip>

As this matter is now sub judice i have been advised to remove this post.


Dave

Edited by Happy Dave on Monday 28th April 00:06

[gdr]

Happy Dave said:

If your dealer gives you any friction about swapping the thermostat out, by all means mail me for more details , etc - I have the duty of care document stating what has been done under warranty to my car.

Thanks - hopefully they will know about this problem but if not I may get in touch!