Is my Chim running too cold???
Discussion
gavmitchell said:
Sounds like thermostat stuck open if it's running 60 or below. To check start engine from cold and stick your hand on pipe to rad. It should be cold to start and stay cold then after little while (3-5 mins) will get warmer and hot very quickly (let go of pipe!). If it starts cold and gradually gets warmer straight away then it's stuck open. If this is the case take it out and put a new one in to fix problem (they are not much)
I started up and compared the temp in the top hose to the rad with the top hose to teh swirl pot? They both got warm at the same time. I'm guessing the thermostat is either stuck open, or AWOL.
alex.mcintosh said:
correct me if I'm wrong...
the thermostat is in the block so the pipes to/from the swirl tank should get hot at almost exactly the same time....
>> Edited by alex.mcintosh on Wednesday 31st December 12:04
ah. i thought the swirl pot was included in normal circulation? I'm a newish owner, so I'm quite probably wrong then!
The top pipe to the radiator was getting warm well before the temp gauge read 50....
don't worry about the temp guage - could be faulty. Best way is to check the pipe from the block to the swirl tank. If it gradually gets warm then the stat is stuck open. If it gets warm very quickly this would indicate the stat is opening and is OK (although could be opening at the wrong temp!!)
thansk for your reply... my other thoughts were that the car runs at ~90 around town, with the fans cutting in and out OK, but on an open A road, Dual carriageway/Motorway the temp will drop to around ~60 and stay there. I'm worried that its too cold and so am sticking to <3000 revs until around 60, then not more than about 3500 or so until it gets to ~80....
am I being over cautious?
am I being over cautious?
kdd said:
thansk for your reply... my other thoughts were that the car runs at ~90 around town, with the fans cutting in and out OK, but on an open A road, Dual carriageway/Motorway the temp will drop to around ~60 and stay there. I'm worried that its too cold and so am sticking to <3000 revs until around 60, then not more than about 3500 or so until it gets to ~80....
am I being over cautious?
No - sounds sensible. Mine's exactly the same but runs at 70 on dual carriageway and motorway. Having read posts on this before it seems fairly normal and may partly be due to the position of the sender (at the front of the block and so may be affected by cold air when making rapid progress)
The temp guages are not very accurate and I only use mine as a rough guide. 60 does sound a little low and I would get it checked at the next service, but in the meantime don't worry unduly
>> Edited by alex.mcintosh on Wednesday 31st December 14:20
Great! I'll not worry too much then..... Newbie TVR owners eh! 
It's going back to the dealer in Jan sometime as it appears to have a coolant leak. Its loosing coolant, but looking in from the top I cannot see where, and I can't get underneath it well enough to look there. On their advice I'm keeping it topped up, and checking it regularly until they see it.
Thanks again,
kdd
It's going back to the dealer in Jan sometime as it appears to have a coolant leak. Its loosing coolant, but looking in from the top I cannot see where, and I can't get underneath it well enough to look there. On their advice I'm keeping it topped up, and checking it regularly until they see it.
Thanks again,
kdd
kdd said:
Great! I'll not worry too much then..... Newbie TVR owners eh!
It's going back to the dealer in Jan sometime as it appears to have a coolant leak. Its loosing coolant, but looking in from the top I cannot see where, and I can't get underneath it well enough to look there. On their advice I'm keeping it topped up, and checking it regularly until they see it.
Thanks again,
Probably the rad - most leak after a while....Had a constant leak on mine but couldn't see where from. Replaced rad and expansion tank - much better but not 100%....given up now!
>> Edited by alex.mcintosh on Wednesday 31st December 14:37
>> Edited by alex.mcintosh on Wednesday 31st December 14:40
Sounds about the same as mine used to be - now no more than ¼ pint every so often. Are you sure it's not being expelled out of the top of the expansion tank? They all like to be filled to different levels. Supposed to be half way but if you do that on mine it spits loads out and is happier on just one quarter
At first I read the handbook which said 2" from the top. When it wouldn't maintain that, I spoke to the dealer who said as long as it maintained a level (any level) in the expansion tank, it would be ok, so I took to measuring the level using a chopstick as a dipstick 
, but when it got to empty I called them with the feedback and they said they wanted to have a look at it in the new year and was I happy to keep it topped up in the mean time, so I check it and throw a pint in when needed.
, but when it got to empty I called them with the feedback and they said they wanted to have a look at it in the new year and was I happy to keep it topped up in the mean time, so I check it and throw a pint in when needed.
Ahaaaaa.....reading one of the threads I just found out that there is a way to get warm air to my feet. By opening the air vents under the dash....now my feet will be nice and warm (except when I go fast) when I am on the motorway the car still has problems heating the cabin...its almost like the air is coming in too fast and too cold for the poor old heater....anyway it may be better with the vents open....thanks Keith.
thornogson said:
If it is running at 60 degrees, study the thread and get it fixed, it will be better for it.
thanks for that abrupt advice boss!
but it's not actually broken - it averages around 80 and runs lovely - my last post was a bit of fun mate and at 60 (on it's way up to 80) you can start to feel the warm air blowers.... study the post & get some manners...you'll be better for it.
My car was running at 50-60 degrees on the gauge.
Last month I replaced the blue header tank cap (as it could be heard hissing) and replaced the thermostat with gasket - the old one was stuck open.
It took me 4 attempts to bleed the system of air, with short runs in between each top-up.
No problems since then - it runs at 70 on the motorway and 70-90 in slower conditions.
Dan
Last month I replaced the blue header tank cap (as it could be heard hissing) and replaced the thermostat with gasket - the old one was stuck open.
It took me 4 attempts to bleed the system of air, with short runs in between each top-up.
No problems since then - it runs at 70 on the motorway and 70-90 in slower conditions.
Dan
M@H said:
.. investigate the thermostat..
How's that work then... all you do is chuck it in a cup with some hot water and watch it.
Matt.
yeah, yeah, I know.... but while they have it down there, it'll be a lot easier for them to get the damn thing out and stick it in a mug than for me to do it. looks like an arse to get to!
have done it on the old triumph.... but it's a lot easier to get to!
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