Running Cool!

[d50cyx]

An unusual worry perhaps, but my engine's running rather cool for my liking!

Had the radiator replaced at the last service, but the engine now seems to be finding it hard/impossible to get to temperature, especially on the motorway. Came back into town from Reading yesterday, and the temperature barely moved above 50, meaning that I had to keep the revs really low (although not an issue in that weather!). As soon as I got to slow moving traffic, it did warm up to around 80, which made me a whole lot happier.

Is something wrong here? Am I risking engine damage? Any advice?

Thanks,
Mike.

[Bob the Planner]

Have you found out what temperature the fans come on at ? It may be that your temp gauge is reading incorrectly.

Other possiblities recently discussed here and plenty more under search.

Bob

[GreenV8S]

Sounbds like your stat (well, the car's stat really) is missing or faulty.

[zippee]

In this weather mine finds it hard to get over 60 at fast road/mway speeds. Too much cold air hitting the rad.
Common problem in this cold weather

[d50cyx]

Hmm, well I wasn't getting hot air, and the fans come on at just above the 80 mark (modified otter), so it seems to be pointing towards the thermostat... will get the bible out tonight and see what it says. Before I get a chance to dig the manual out, is the stat easy to locate?

[GreenV8S]

Yes. Follow the top hose from the swirl tank back towards the top of the engine. The casting that the hose connects to is the stat housing. A relatively quick sanity test for a stat is to start the engine from cold and feel how soon the top hose starts to get warm. If it warms up gradually as the engine warms up, the stat isn't working. If it stays stone cold until the engine gets to 80 ish and suddenly goes warm, the stat is probably working OK.

[Pink_Floyd]

Just changed the stat on mine, bit awkward to get at the bolts, took about 2 hours to change. The rad hose is now cold till it gets to 65C then it gradually gets hotter and seems to stabalise at 80C. When driving the temp gague shows 70C so assume that the new stat is opening slightly at about 65C and is probably fully open at 80C. This slight opening and the cold weather stops the engine reaching proper operating temp. What is needed is an adjustable radiator blind, I remember my dad having one on his old Ford Pop 103E, Shut the blind on startup and then manually adjust as the engine warmed up. Can't find anyone who sells then now :-).

[d50cyx]

Thanks guys - I'll do some experimentation this evening (much to my neighbour's annoyance ;-) and let you know what the verdict is.

If the stat does need replacing, what's the actual part number, and where's the best place to source a part? Or is it going to be easier to ship it back to the garage???

Thanks.

[tvr keith]

I have the same problem on my 2000 Chim 450. It's going into Dream Machines for a service next week for a service so I will report back once that's been done, as I have said to them that I think the stat is faulty
Keith

[ATG]

I think Pink Floyd may well be right. I get the impression it would be better if the stat opened and closed over a narrower temperature range. The other possibility is that the temp guage is under-reading because its sender is being cooled by the cold weather ... i.e. it isn't measuring the real temperature of the coolant. Anyone know where exactly that sender is fitted?

[GreenV8S]

The sender is on the front of the intake manifold. On some models the sensor is apparently fitted on the end of a dead pipe so would be particularly vulnerable to wind chill effects.

[big.jezz]

mine was like that replaced thermostat with one that opens at 72 deg
it did help a bit but it was at about 65 deg on motorway
was not happy with that so have now replaced with 82 deg
it will now sit just above 72 deg on motorway

when i first bought one i thought the 72 deg one would start to open at 72
but it is fully open by then wish someone had told me this before it would have saved me a lot of time
hope this helps mate

>> Edited by big.jezz on Monday 9th January 19:05

[Don]

Ours did this. New Thermostat cured the problem. It was stuck open.

It would get up to temperature - eventually - but could be a long, long time about it. Clearly this wasn't best for the engine so we got it fixed a.s.a.p.

But given that you take it easy with the right foot until its up to speed, and the Chimaera is quick enough even when being treated with kid gloves, then you have a little time to get it sorted.

[d50cyx]

[redacted]

[sgrimshaw]

d50cyx said:

Time to go back to the garage - there a few other minor things to sort out post service, so I will combine the trip!

Be great if you could confirm the garage's findings - your "problem" sounds just like mine.

Thanks,

Simon

[andy-w]

Start the engine from cold with the lid of the swirl pot...if water is flowing through ther at a fast rate your stat is either missing or faulty...there should be a small trickle coming out of the top pipe to prevent thermal shock to the rad when the water starts to heat up.

My car woould not get over 50 deg...went to change the stat and it was missing...now it sits at about 80 - 85 when driving and is a lot smoother!!!

[jonnyb]

Remember that if you have the heater on full hot and the fans on in cold weather, this can be enough cooling for the engine never to get up to normal running temps in the winter.

The heater is just another rad that has no thermostat, and so no control over engine temp.

I was convinced my stat was bust, so spent time replacing it (twice in fact!) But in the winter, with the heater on, it still doesn't get over 65.

[d50cyx]

Well, had it down at Austec this morning, and the verdict is that the guage is reading incorrectly (about 20 degrees down!), so nothing to worry about. Will get it replace at the next service and not worry about it for now.

Thanks all.

[tvr keith]

Just got mine back from a service at Dream Machines.
They have tested the stat etc and say that it's all OK. On the wasy back running at about 55-60 degrees with the outside air temp indicator on "orange". Apparently quite a few people are raising the same query at the moment.
Looking forward to driving it again with the roof off once that red/ orange/ green light goes out on the dash!
Even so, it's good to have it back in the garage. I know I'm sad but I have the luxury of an attached garage with interior access from the house. So every time something is needed from the freezer or alcoholic supplies I'm there. Sometimes I might spend a few minutes out there.
Dream Machines did lend me a perfectly good Corsa as a courtesy car which I did put in the garage, ( to hide it from the neighbours), but looking at it did not have the same effect as the TVR.
I think I'll have to go out there to get another beer......