How hot does your C5 run?
Discussion
My 2001 model normally runs run rock solid at 90c. Just lateley on a few occassions, in heavy traffic on a hot day, 70f+, I have noticed it creep up to 105-109c. Once traffic clears after about 3/4 mile it is back down to 90c. Now I have never seen this before in 5 years of ownership but does that mean it hasnt happened or that I have never spotted it. Does this sound normal or abnormal to anyone? If the latter should I be looking at anything in particular. Cannot imaginge that after 5 years the rad has anything wrong with it. It doesnt seem like a sticky thermostat
yellowshark454 said:
Cannot imagine that after 5 years the rad has anything wrong with it.
You would be surprised how much crap a 25,000 mile 2 year old radiator managed to accumulate. Remember the front you can see is the aircon rad not the engine rad, I would try using an air line and blowing the rad over to see what falls out!
In my 2001 i had the same problem in heavy traffic. Was really worrying the first time since previously i had a saab and that never seemed to heat up. My fan cut in and it was back to normal until it needed it again a few miles later. I just kept watching and it seemed fine. I was even checking the tranmission temp and oil temps just in case and they seemed ok too.
Interestingly enough my Vauxhaul Omega 2L, (93 Mreg) tends to use the fan alot too.
Interestingly enough my Vauxhaul Omega 2L, (93 Mreg) tends to use the fan alot too.
Yep, my '02 has always shown temperature rises in summer traffic. On mine the water temp usually runs steady at 194-196F but can rise fairly quickly to 215F in summer traffic, particularly after a motorway run or even after a few spirited overtaking moves. Fans cut in at 225 and they promptly bring the temperature back down again, but I've only rarely had temperatures get that high.
Oil usually shows about 203F but I've seen 240F on a hot track day with no problems.
With old analogue dials one probably wouldn't have seen much movement and never really noticed but with digital readouts the numbers can look big quite quickly.
Oil usually shows about 203F but I've seen 240F on a hot track day with no problems.
With old analogue dials one probably wouldn't have seen much movement and never really noticed but with digital readouts the numbers can look big quite quickly.
Ok just starting to get mildly concerned. Went out this morning briefly, didnt get stuck in traffic and the guage went beyond 90(192)to around 100(212). I know that is not terminal but is a trend the wrong way. Anyway popped the hood just now to reconnoitre clearing crap and you can't actually see the rad. Do I assume correctly that to blow compressed air (or high pressure water) throught the rad from the interior facing side to the exterior facing side you have to remove all the housings and the 2 fans etc??. I was planning on driving it to the local garage for a quick 5 mins with the air hose but guess I wont. The C5 workshop manual says you do it the same by using a water jet, so I plan on using my Karcher and presumably a number of hours to remove and reinstall all the stuff. Mind you I guess I could park it and wait for the weather to cool down!! Or some bright spark will advise on my other post that the disconnection is actually a sensor and yes would certainly affect the engine temperature 
Worth checking the rad for debris, you can probably see enough if you can get under the front of the car and look up behind the spoiler. See if there's any muck or expired animals sprawled across it - I remember one car magazine having overheating prolems with a BMW because a bat had plastered itself across the radiator and was obstructing the airflow !
te51cle said:
Worth checking the rad for debris, you can probably see enough if you can get under the front of the car and look up behind the spoiler. See if there's any muck or expired animals sprawled across it - I remember one car magazine having overheating prolems with a BMW because a bat had plastered itself across the radiator and was obstructing the airflow !
Oh shit why does one always have to get under the FRONT of a C5; don't the designers know its a PITA for us mere mortals without lifts.
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