Hot under the collar!

[dale_da_bone]

Hello,

Just had my S3 serviced and noticed things are running a lot hotter. The garage say they haven't done anything that would affect temperature. So my questions are:

What is the normal running temp of the 2.9 S3C?
At what temp should the fan cut in and is the fan switch connected via the thermostat that the guage is connected too?
Is running in the red (after a long drive, standing still, my temp is just into the red, even with the fan running) bad?
What steps can I take to resolve over heating?

Thanks for you help!

[SotonS2]

Check that swirl pot has coolant to about 1 inch below the top and that expansion tank is about half full and that the system has not become airlocked. Not saying that the garage wouldn't have checked this but......

Also worth checking that the garage has not reversed the swirl pot and expansion tank caps. One should be pressurised and one shouldn't - we all know which way round they should go ducks and runs for cover



>> Edited by SotonS2 on Monday 18th April 16:27

[dale_da_bone]

Your a star!

There was no coolant in the system! Put 2 litres in and now sits perfectly just below the 90 line.

Thanks again.

PS pressurised lid was on the swirl pot. ;-)

[GreenV8S]

Hope you bled the radiator too ...

[Hoover33]

Ohhh please don't start the debate on which cap goes on where

[Pies]

Hoover33 said:

Ohhh please don't start the debate on which cap goes on where

spoilsport,why not

[Hoover33]

Actually I have not a clue on what cap is where on mine.... no need to look as the car working tops

[dale_da_bone]

GreenV8S said:

Hope you bled the radiator too ...

Not entirely sure how that is done, but did take steps to ensure no air was left! Do think I am going to drain the whole system this weekend, as the coolant that was left looked like tea!

Will have a look for some threads on the subject!

Thanks for all your help.

[GreenV8S]

dale_da_bone said:

Not entirely sure how that is done, but did take steps to ensure no air was left!

If you don't know how then you haven't done it, it is done separately from the rest of the system. There's a bleed screw on the top near side corner of the rad (actually its an upside down drain screw) which can be used to expel air from the radiator. There is no other way for the air to get out, it's a natural air lock, so this should be bled every six months or so and as a matter of course any time the water has run low. Surprising how many people don't know/don't bother, but a radiator that is half full of air doesn't work very well!

[markbigears]

I thought the expansion tank was supposed to be empty? mine always has been.

[F908 Tim]

Mine too.
Always got a spit in the bottom,thats all.

[SotonS2]

F908 Tim said:

Mine too. Always got spit in the bottom,thats all.

Fill mine up from the tap - much quicker and easier on the saliva glands

[Shnozz]

ay up neil - down the pub if you fancy a couple later...

>> Edited by Shnozz on Tuesday 19th April 13:46

[SotonS2]

Shnozz said:

ay up neil - down the pub if you fancy a couple later... >> Edited by Shnozz on Tuesday 19th April 13:46

Love to mate but am out till 9ish tonight. Rain check for another day eh ?

[Pies]

Im a bit suspicious of your garage,if they say they havent done anything to affect the cooling what did they do on the service.At the very least i would have expected them tho check coolant level,and antifreeze concentration.Both of which need the swirl tank cap to be removed.Now if they hadn't replaced it that would have serious effects on cooling.So they must have done something to affect the cooling

[dale_da_bone]

Thanks for the info on bleeding. I managed to find an old thread about removing the rad, which then goes on to discuss replacing the coolant. Think I will do the whole lot at the weekend.

So, should I have a drop in the expansion tank or none at all? If the tank has an overflow, what is the harm in having a little in the bottom?

As for my garage, I'm now somewhat suspicious as to what they actually did do! Think I may check the oil etc etc.....

Thanks again.

[pantani201]

There is a mark on the expansion tank showing the level that should be in there.

[markbigears]

the mark is for the original car it came from... its used as expansion tank on the S hense its for water blown out of the swirl pot, so if you have water in there its from there. My level in the swirl pot is about 4 inches from the top...if I fill it above that it blows it out.

>> Edited by markbigears on Tuesday 19th April 18:41

[F908 Tim]

And if I put more in my empty one then that simply blows out of mine as soon as I have a bit of a blat.
Each one runs happiest with the volume of water it needs.Make sure you have no airlocks,top everything up and the engine will throw out the amount it dosent want by finding its own level again in the expansion tank.