Elise SC Normal operating temperatures

[Jovver]

Hmm, not sure if this is an issue, but the temperature gauge reached a heady 98C this morning.

This is easily the highest it has ever been, although I was stuck in a traffic jam for nearly an hour. The temperature dropped back to normal as soon as the traffic cleared, but there seemed to be a lack of power/ misfire for a brief moment after I set off. Is this normal, or is it just heat soak (I used to get this in my S2000). What temperature does the fan normally kick in?

Probably nothing to worry about (I probably wouldn't even be concerned about this if the gauge showed bars instead of a centigrade reading!)

Thanks

[John MacK]

On older Elises the fan kicks in at 102, I'd expect yours to be similar.

What does your car 'normally' run at?

People new to Elises tend watch the temp display and worry when it changes a bit, probably partly due to the fact you get the actual temp displayed rather than a needle on a gauge. If for e.g you car normally runs around 94 deg, and it jumps up to 98 deg it may appear a big difference, but on a gauge you probably wouldn't notice it.

If it is over 105 for a lot then I'd worry.

[Jovver]

Thanks for the info. It normally runs anywhere between 90 and 93 in stop start traffic. However this morning, there was very little movement (guess I should have switched the engine off...)

The numerical reading definitely made me a little paranoid; a simple bar would definitely be easier on your heart rate!

Fantastic car in all other respects though (well, apart from getting in and out, but you soon get used to it. Always amusing to watch your friends struggling to get out though!)

[kevin ritson]

Sounds normal to me - there's no cooling airflow over the radiator plus the water pump may not be as efficient at low revs (dunno how good the Toyota one is). I've noticed the NA Toyota tends to build temp slowly whereas the K is quicker to react, also the SC runs a few degrees hotter. I'd put that down to there being no intercooler, which probably also explains the lack of power when hot.

[Boggy]

kevin ritson said:

Sounds normal to me - there's no cooling airflow over the radiator plus the water pump may not be as efficient at low revs (dunno how good the Toyota one is). I've noticed the NA Toyota tends to build temp slowly whereas the K is quicker to react, also the SC runs a few degrees hotter. I'd put that down to there being no intercooler, which probably also explains the lack of power when hot.

Yup, noticed that the Exige S has the legs on an Elise SC whenever we got on a straight at either Brands, Snetterton or Silverstone. I really struggled with heat soak on track in the Summer. I’d opt for an R then do the SC as an add on

Funny I have

Boggy

[Jovver]

Thanks for the reassurance, it's much appreciated!

I guess the only reason I got worried was that the temperature had never risen to these "dizzy" heights before. It's nice to know that this is all perfectly normal (but it does make you wonder why Lotus don't simply make the fan cut in sooner?)

I thought I had left heat soak behind with my old S2000; my first one seemed to suffer from it quite badly in the summer months. Oh well...

I have to say, the Elise makes me smile every time I drive it; I've only had it for a month and the feeling definitely hasn't worn off yet! The steering is an absolute revelation compared to the Honda (but sadly the gearchange is as bad as the steering is good I think!)

Edited by Jovver on Wednesday 9th December 18:48

[Mr Sea]

I have to say, the Elise makes me smile every time I drive it; I've only had it for a month and the feeling definitely hasn't worn off yet! The steering is an absolute revelation compared to the Honda (but sadly the gearchange is as bad as the steering is good I think!)

Edited by Jovver on Wednesday 9th December 18:48

[/quote]

Jovver, glad you're loving the Elise, Re: gear change, When I first had my Elise back in May, I found I couldn't change gear in the same way as I could in my Griffith or my VW but there is a technic to it with the hand. I don't fist hold it but move/push the stick lightly with my hand open, I'm getting quicker at it too.
If I'm not driving the Lotus I'm thinking about it, I want to drive it all the time, more so that any other sports car I've had, it's an addiction!
Go easy out there!

Good Luck.

[tail slide]

I've just had a similar Eaton SC added to my VX220, as engineered by Lotus for GM in U.S. market.

As a standard package the radiator fans don't even switch on until 97C - which I questioned when I found out on a trackday last week!

So 98C is what you'd expect.

[peter450]

Boggy said:

kevin ritson said:

Sounds normal to me - there's no cooling airflow over the radiator plus the water pump may not be as efficient at low revs (dunno how good the Toyota one is). I've noticed the NA Toyota tends to build temp slowly whereas the K is quicker to react, also the SC runs a few degrees hotter. I'd put that down to there being no intercooler, which probably also explains the lack of power when hot.

Yup, noticed that the Exige S has the legs on an Elise SC whenever we got on a straight at either Brands, Snetterton or Silverstone. I really struggled with heat soak on track in the Summer. I’d opt for an R then do the SC as an add on

Funny I have

Boggy

I thought you could only get heat soak if the car has a intercooler? which the S/C does not have

I remember reading on these foums a while back (a very long while actually) and someone posted that the S/C suffers no heatsoak as it has no intercooler, i have to admit i thought it a bit strange that 2 cars with the same engine and power output, that the intercooled one would perform worse on account of heatsoak, when the temp must shurely be lower than a car without intercooler

I have to admit i'm not hugly confident on the tecky aspects of "heatsoak" so could be talking complete nonsense here

Edited by peter450 on Wednesday 9th December 20:13

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

If it's like the R then the fans kick in at 99/100C and go back off at 90C. Sounds like nothing to worry about to me.

[EK993]

I am often in busy London traffic.

Temp goes up to 99 then the fan kicks in and takes it down to around 91.

With the aircon on and in heavy traffic (ie stationary for long periods) the temp goes up to 100 or 101 before coming down again.