Bangernomics - problem

[IceBoy]

Hi All,

As some of you might know, I purchased a v70 2.0 SE 1998 to run as a banger for a while.

To be fair it has been the best £1500 I have ever spent.

The car runs like new!

Small problem this morning, the temperature gauage is fine in traffic but dips to below a quarter when running on A-roads/motorway. I think the heaters then don't blow as much hot air...more just warm'ish air.

There is no coolant loss or oil in the water or anything like that...

...Is this just a simple thermostat change or could it be something else?

IceBoy

[Defcon5]

Sounds like a textbook thermostat to me

[BeeRoad]

That's not a problem, it's a feature of bangernomics. You pay less to buy the car but spend more time and money fixing it!

[ferkle]

efficient radiator, or if its turbocharged and anything like my old saabs, driving off boost caused the temperature to dip a bit - combination of intercooler dropping intake temps and radiator doing its job efficiently.

or if it wont get to full temperature, take a look at the thermostat - in this weather probably the best £7/8 you will spend if you DIY, add another £20 for some half decent antifreeze while you're at it.

[Mr Gear]

Erm, this is normal. When moving, air is flowing over the radiator and the coolant temp will drop.

[BliarOut]

Try blanking half the rad off as a temporary measure.

[Deva Link]

BeeRoad said:

That's not a problem, it's a feature of bangernomics. You pay less to buy the car but spend more time and money fixing it!

...or just live with it. The trick is not to get suckered into spending money on the car unless you have to.

[IceBoy]

I agree, did not want to spend a penny, as I did my own service for about £40 when I brought her....and that should be it for 30k.....I've done 10k hassle free so far...!!

[Deva Link]

Drive closely behind a large vehicle to reduce the wind chill - and it makes for better economy too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lttgT1XZVvE

[Fish]

Sounds like the thermostat is stuck open...

[Defcon5]

Mr Gear said:

Erm, this is normal. When moving, air is flowing over the radiator and the coolant temp will drop.

Not to that extent. The guage is dampended so it will stay showing desired temp to counter fluctuations through driving. If its showing less than a quarter then something is wrong

[road_rager]

Another vote for stuck open thermostat, diy shouldnt take long or be expensive

[king arthur]

Maybe not stuck fully open but does sound like a leaking thermostat, fix it when you can as if it gets worse then you'll be running the engine cold all the time.

[Mr Gear]

Defcon5 said:

Mr Gear said:

Erm, this is normal. When moving, air is flowing over the radiator and the coolant temp will drop.

Not to that extent. The guage is dampended so it will stay showing desired temp to counter fluctuations through driving. If its showing less than a quarter then something is wrong

Depends what the gauge is actually showing. If it show 70 degs C at the lowest and 120 degs at the highest, then it dropping to 1/4 is not at all surprising.

[davepoth]

But the thermostat should compensate for that. It should only be a couple of quid to buy and half an hour to fit. The cardboard (or better, coroplast from estate agent's signs since it doesn't get damp) partially blanking the radiator is a proper bangeromics "fix" but make sure to remove it when the weather gets warmer.

[Fish981]

Mr Gear said:

Erm, this is normal. When moving, air is flowing over the radiator and the coolant temp will drop.

The temp in the radiator will drop, yes. The thermostat will then shut keeping the coolant in the engine roughly the same.

Even an undamped temperature guage shouldn't show much/any movement once the car has warmed up.

[Deva Link]

Could fit a rad blind.

if it is only 30mins to change then fair enough. But it's a lot more awkward on some cars and one (or more) of the bolts frequently shear.

[spikeyhead]

1500 notes?

That's not bangernomics, that's luxery.

[Deva Link]

spikeyhead said:

1500 notes?

That's not bangernomics, that's luxery.

I was thinking that - a guy we know who is a chef buys cars for £250. He thinks it's a result if they come with some fuel in them - 4 gallons is 10% of the value!

[wolf1]

Maybe some little scallywag has already removed the thermostat