Cool Running

[jimi]

In the last week my chim 'kylie' as she is known! Has taken to running on an indicated temp of 50-60C and occaisonly the tappets get very loud then go quiet again. Before this last week always 75-85 running and upto 90 traffic, the only reason for this i can think is moving the numberplate down hence opening up the grill for more air, but not to cool it that much surely? do you think the guage is knackered?

[Incorrigible]

Yes

But first chack the swirl pot level, then get down to a garage with a point and click temp gauge

As has been mentioned before, you need to know what's going on

[thornogson]

My car has always run cool, barley touching 80 in high summer hardley 60 in winter. Changed the thermostat last week, now runs at 88/90, fans coming on at 95. Car now runs a lot better. The stat wasn't stuck open, but must have been faulty.

[david beer]

My Griff one day showed 50-60 and i knew that it was just not possible. It was the sender and on a Serp you can use the unused sender on the top of the block. A variable resistor to calibrate and thats it. If you can not source the bits i can.

[jonnyb]

Did the same thing on mine about 3 weeks ago, it went from indicating about 85-90 when the number plate was across the grill to indicating about 70 on a run. I think it has a lower opening thermostat and otter switch which all come on at the same time (about 70).

By moving the number plate you have improved the cooling by about 15-20% but 50-60 does sound a bit too cool. Are you sure the thermostat is not stuck open.

[simpo two]

You need to mount the numberplate on a bimetal strip so it automatically hinges flatter in hot weather. In fact, link it to the temp sender so you get a feedback loop.

(C) Dangerous idea #23 by Simpo Two

[sparkythecat]

Had to resurrect this thread as mine is displaying the same symptoms and I haven't changed anything. Temp has dropped from running at 70 to running at 60. Given long enough in standing traffic, the fans cut in when the guage reaches 95. I presume that rules out the sender unit? Do I therefore just need to change the thermostat or do I need to find a man with a pointy clicky thingto diagnose and how does that work then?

[v8 Archie]

simpo two said:

You need to mount the numberplate on a bimetal strip so it automatically hinges flatter in hot weather. In fact, link it to the temp sender so you get a feedback loop. (C) Dangerous idea #23 by Simpo Two

PMSL

PS: is this one of those serious posts that you wanted earlier? All the best, it was good to meet you a few weeks ago .

[SlowRider]

Isnt this all because the weathers got a lot cooler? Mine is running cooler too, but i have presumed it just reflects the air temperature.

Jeremy

[GreenV8S]

If it runs significantly below the stat closing temperature (typically around 80 C, although you can get different stats) under normal conditions then either the gauge is lying or your stat isn't closing properly. It can run much colder under extreme conditions, such as cruising down a motorway in freezing weather, but in the current mild weather running too cold indicates a fault. If the engine is running too cold, it will also run too rich and this can cause increased engine wear.

[jimi]

I think my gauge is knackered, if i get in the car and drive without stopping for any distance at any speed it will not go above 50 degrees, as soon as i stop and idle for a couple of minutes the temp is up to 70 and then sitting in traffic queues it goes up to 90 and the fans come on, get driving again and temp drops back down to 50. Im sure it isnt running that temp though because there is heatr haze from the bonnet even at the low indicated temp ??

[GreenV8S]

Are you suggesting that the gauge is accurate when you're stationary but not when you're moving? I guess it's possible if you have a broken wire or something, but it seems more likely to me that the gauge is telling you the truth and you have a leaky stat.