Discussion
I have never had a problem with engine temperature on the Chim but now the fans cut in at about 70 degrees even when ticking over in the garage. They always used to cut in at about 80. This was also noted at the recent MOT and they suggested a new thermostat was needed but even if the stat is stuck open why would the fans come on early.?
The thermostat opening or closing would affect how quickly the water gets hot, or very hot if it fails to open at all (!), but not when the fans cut in. The water temperature gauge often under-reads because of where the sensor is, but if you're sure it's accurate, then it'll be the otter switch. It's either in the base of the swirl pot or close to the top hose of the radiator depending on the age of the car.
Basically it just closes when the water gets hot. You could remove it and heat in up in a saucepan with a thermometer to see at what temperature it closes.
The engine does tend to run cool in current temperatures. On the move on Tuesday, mine was reading 60C. But I know mine under-reads by 10C because I have an aftermarket ECU that I can connect to and read what the 'other' water temp sensor is saying.
Basically it just closes when the water gets hot. You could remove it and heat in up in a saucepan with a thermometer to see at what temperature it closes.
The engine does tend to run cool in current temperatures. On the move on Tuesday, mine was reading 60C. But I know mine under-reads by 10C because I have an aftermarket ECU that I can connect to and read what the 'other' water temp sensor is saying.
It doesn't matter to me that the gauge reads under, it's well known it's only a rough guide anyway. I never said I trusted it. Since it's always 10C below what the ECU sees, it's where the sender is located that's the issue, it's not faulty.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
The ECU now controls my fans coming on and it uses a sensor from a different place more in the flow of water.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
The ECU now controls my fans coming on and it uses a sensor from a different place more in the flow of water.
For example,,,,,
I have Mbe ignition which also controls the fans via Ecu temp sender and watched my cars gauge go from a steady 90 to nearly 110 as it was stood running, took about 45 mins in my case before heat soak started the gauge rising to what seems like dangerous levels yet the Ecu temp sender reading on lap top sat at a steady 89/90.
What this test showed me was as long as your fans go off rather than stay on your cooling system is working. The car ran on tickover for over an hr I seem to remember, not once did the temp go above 90 with fans coming on then just as quickly off, this is inside a garage building so ambient probably 20 degrees or so.
I’d check for bulging hoses or more noise from the engine when it’s cooling down if your concerned but all things being equal the cooling usually works very well.
I have Mbe ignition which also controls the fans via Ecu temp sender and watched my cars gauge go from a steady 90 to nearly 110 as it was stood running, took about 45 mins in my case before heat soak started the gauge rising to what seems like dangerous levels yet the Ecu temp sender reading on lap top sat at a steady 89/90.
What this test showed me was as long as your fans go off rather than stay on your cooling system is working. The car ran on tickover for over an hr I seem to remember, not once did the temp go above 90 with fans coming on then just as quickly off, this is inside a garage building so ambient probably 20 degrees or so.
I’d check for bulging hoses or more noise from the engine when it’s cooling down if your concerned but all things being equal the cooling usually works very well.
Steve_D said:
Put RoverGauge on it and check the temp on there.
Very common for the dash instrument reading to be wrong.
Steve
^^this^^Very common for the dash instrument reading to be wrong.
Steve
The coolant is heated in one place and cooled in another so the temperature varies greatly depending on where in the system you measure it. The gauge sender and ECU sender are reasonably close so these should detect similar temperatures but the gauge sender is placed in a dead space and so doesn't benefit from being in the flow. This can cause the gauge reading to be sluggish
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