No. plate may stay off – 3 points waiting 2 happen
Discussion
Staggered and amazed of Peterborough here ...
Took the front no. plate off Saturday and kept it off while going for a run. Got in a queue at the drive-in MacDonalds and the temp was up to 90 in no time – fans cut in OK – through the 'window 3' bit etc, onto some dual carriageway and WOW ... the temperature shot down from 90 to 80 in just over a mile! Was home by then and had to pinch myself ... wouldn't have believed it would have made THAT much difference! With the front plate on I am sure this would have taken five miles or more to return to normal.
Problem is, do I get a SMALLER plate or do I go the dangerous route and leave it off ... the car kinda looks wrong without a plate on it ITKWIM.
Don't fancy a bonnet mounted 'E-Type' stylee one and saw one at Chatsworth a guy had mounted BELOW the grille (on a mount from a Volvo, so he said). Don't know about that either.
Was also checking the rear no. plate light as one side of the plate had gone a bit dull. Unscrewed the plate and after a bit of tooing and frooing the plate came off and half a pint of water fell out too.
Seems the plate had been sealed at the bottom, but not the top hence the water which meant the screws on the plastic lens type affairs had rusted to buggery. Why couldn't these have been mounted at the top and the shape of the recess been the other way up so no water could have lodged there? Fred Karno my old chap would have said.
Am still going to find out why the thing seems to be running a bit hot mind, but it's a start.
>>> Edited by MikeyT on Monday 23 September 20:51
Took the front no. plate off Saturday and kept it off while going for a run. Got in a queue at the drive-in MacDonalds and the temp was up to 90 in no time – fans cut in OK – through the 'window 3' bit etc, onto some dual carriageway and WOW ... the temperature shot down from 90 to 80 in just over a mile! Was home by then and had to pinch myself ... wouldn't have believed it would have made THAT much difference! With the front plate on I am sure this would have taken five miles or more to return to normal.
Problem is, do I get a SMALLER plate or do I go the dangerous route and leave it off ... the car kinda looks wrong without a plate on it ITKWIM.
Don't fancy a bonnet mounted 'E-Type' stylee one and saw one at Chatsworth a guy had mounted BELOW the grille (on a mount from a Volvo, so he said). Don't know about that either.
Was also checking the rear no. plate light as one side of the plate had gone a bit dull. Unscrewed the plate and after a bit of tooing and frooing the plate came off and half a pint of water fell out too.
Seems the plate had been sealed at the bottom, but not the top hence the water which meant the screws on the plastic lens type affairs had rusted to buggery. Why couldn't these have been mounted at the top and the shape of the recess been the other way up so no water could have lodged there? Fred Karno my old chap would have said.
Am still going to find out why the thing seems to be running a bit hot mind, but it's a start.
>>> Edited by MikeyT on Monday 23 September 20:51
A slightly smaller plate with nearly correct size (or to be legal correctly sized) letters will make a difference. I've got one on 'cos it looks cool too.
Question: What's wrong with the temp staying at 90deg? In my other car (Audi) it never shifts from 90 whatever the driving/weather etc. I know it's nice to see the gauge drop after being stuck in a nasty traffic jam, but the engine is probably quite happy at 90deg.
And a Bossipility: Your gauge is probably wrong anyway
On a recent rolling road session my gauge was reading 85deg, I knew it was more since the fans were on. The diagnostic equipment reported the actual water temperature sensor was reading 98deg. Some calibration of my gauge needed methinks.
Question: What's wrong with the temp staying at 90deg? In my other car (Audi) it never shifts from 90 whatever the driving/weather etc. I know it's nice to see the gauge drop after being stuck in a nasty traffic jam, but the engine is probably quite happy at 90deg.
And a Bossipility: Your gauge is probably wrong anyway
On a recent rolling road session my gauge was reading 85deg, I knew it was more since the fans were on. The diagnostic equipment reported the actual water temperature sensor was reading 98deg. Some calibration of my gauge needed methinks. I can't comment on the cooling side of things, but I've been running my elise without a front plate for the last 6000 miles / six months and not had any unwanted attention for it. As far as I know, it's a non-endorsable offence, which means if the police don't like your "speed bump tore it off" story the worst they can give you is a £40 fine and orders to put it back.
If anyone tells me to put it back, I'll do so immediately, but until that time, it's staying off.
If anyone tells me to put it back, I'll do so immediately, but until that time, it's staying off.
I never did post an update to my number plate saga MikeyT. My private plate has only two numbers and one of them is "1" anyway - so it is actually short anyway. Reduced the size of the plate by croping the sides - had exactly the same results as you - much cooler running and faster to cool down when hot.
The number plate is still on the grille, but I did manage to loose over 1/3 of the total size by just trimming. The font and spacing has not been changed at all - but just lost the white bits around it! when I asked I had lots of feedback from people with smaller plates made up - seems that they havent been stopped or failed any MOTs as a result.
However, I would say that the best ultimate solution would be to have the plate dropped to the lower "chin" of the front. Just be careful of low kerbs, but then makes a bigger difference.
Do it - you know you want to....
Cheers,
Paul
The number plate is still on the grille, but I did manage to loose over 1/3 of the total size by just trimming. The font and spacing has not been changed at all - but just lost the white bits around it! when I asked I had lots of feedback from people with smaller plates made up - seems that they havent been stopped or failed any MOTs as a result.
However, I would say that the best ultimate solution would be to have the plate dropped to the lower "chin" of the front. Just be careful of low kerbs, but then makes a bigger difference.
Do it - you know you want to....
Cheers,
Paul
Well, first thing this morning I'm off to see a customer about ten miles away and the car doesn't get above 60 all the way there (degrees not mph).
Although coming back from there just now (1.30pm and it's warmed up a bit), it sits on 70.
That's the temperature I'd like it to run at and the temp it DID run at, when I bought it (back in icy Feb however).
I think what I need is a smaller plate (although www.malplates.co.uk) or may be www.mal-plates.co.uk can't show me any pics, just get the red cross (any ideas).
Unlike Mr Brettle, I'm full to overflowing with big wide numbers above one so can't get it even smaller.
Raceboy: what temp is yours running at on a nice summer's day?
Trefor: nothing wrong with running at 90 but recently on the south coast I was caught in traffic and it crept up to well over 100 before I was forced to just switch off and wait. The gearlever and handbrake were so hot, I couldn't touch 'em.
Although coming back from there just now (1.30pm and it's warmed up a bit), it sits on 70.
That's the temperature I'd like it to run at and the temp it DID run at, when I bought it (back in icy Feb however).
I think what I need is a smaller plate (although www.malplates.co.uk) or may be www.mal-plates.co.uk can't show me any pics, just get the red cross (any ideas).
Unlike Mr Brettle, I'm full to overflowing with big wide numbers above one so can't get it even smaller.
Raceboy: what temp is yours running at on a nice summer's day?
Trefor: nothing wrong with running at 90 but recently on the south coast I was caught in traffic and it crept up to well over 100 before I was forced to just switch off and wait. The gearlever and handbrake were so hot, I couldn't touch 'em.
quote:
I never did post an update to my number plate saga MikeyT. My private plate has only two numbers and one of them is "1" anyway - so it is actually short anyway. Reduced the size of the plate by croping the sides - had exactly the same results as you - much cooler running and faster to cool down when hot.
The number plate is still on the grille, but I did manage to loose over 1/3 of the total size by just trimming. The font and spacing has not been changed at all - but just lost the white bits around it! when I asked I had lots of feedback from people with smaller plates made up - seems that they havent been stopped or failed any MOTs as a result.
Paul
Ditto.
At 60 degrees the ECU is probably still enriching the mixture, the oil temperature is not that high and really the revs should be kept below 2500 and therefore the amount of wear the engine is experiencing is higher. Ideally you want to be able to run the car around the 80 mark as this is about the best. Running significantly above or below this is not good for the engine.
Many people think that a cooler engine is good. It isn't and can be just as damaging as running at too high a temperature.
To me the only time it is worth removing the plate is on a hot track day.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Many people think that a cooler engine is good. It isn't and can be just as damaging as running at too high a temperature.
To me the only time it is worth removing the plate is on a hot track day.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
quote:
At 60 degrees the ECU is probably still enriching the mixture, the oil temperature is not that high and really the revs should be kept below 2500 and therefore the amount of wear the engine is experiencing is higher. Ideally you want to be able to run the car around the 80 mark as this is about the best. Running significantly above or below this is not good for the engine.
Many people think that a cooler engine is good. It isn't and can be just as damaging as running at too high a temperature.
To me the only time it is worth removing the plate is on a hot track day.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Steve I use my 99 Chimaera 500 as a daily car with combined town & country driving - often see 95/100 degrees on the gauge on warm days - rarely gets above as fans kick in - but often stays there for a good while - is this impacting engine life - or anything important?
Thks
Tim
Check that the temp is accurate first with an infra-red remote temp sensor doobry... If it is then those temps are high and you have some form of cooling problem. Could be the fans are not coming on earlier enough and so on. Fitting the wrong spec switches and stats are the number i reason behing cooling issues.
See www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18082&f=8&h=0 for doobry info.
See www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18082&f=8&h=0 for doobry info.
I’ve run my car now for about 3 months with no Plate. Not only does it help the cooling on a hot day , but it also looks the complete Dogs Doo Dah's. I did even buy myself a slightly smaller plate to mount just below the grill but think it looks so cool without I haven’t bothered yet.
I keep my old plate in the boot to give the old bill the "well it fell off officer, Ill go get some sticky tape now" line.
I’ve seen loads of cops and they have a look but don’t seem to be bothered.
Dave
I keep my old plate in the boot to give the old bill the "well it fell off officer, Ill go get some sticky tape now" line.
I’ve seen loads of cops and they have a look but don’t seem to be bothered.
Dave
quote:
Check that the temp is accurate first with an infra-red remote temp sensor doobry... If it is then those temps are high and you have some form of cooling problem. Could be the fans are not coming on earlier enough and so on. Fitting the wrong spec switches and stats are the number i reason behing cooling issues.
See www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18082&f=8&h=0 for doobry info.
Thanks Steve - useful link
Tim
Try this link they offer a good service just received my new small plate, you cna order any size you want....enjoy....!
Jon
[url]www.fancyplates.com/index.html[/url]
Jon
[url]www.fancyplates.com/index.html[/url]
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