Temperature operating range
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 267
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From: Hattiesburg MS
Temperature operating range
I was driving the other day and the temperature outside was 100 degrees.I noticed my digital temperature gauge went up to about 251 degrees is this a normal operating range?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,776
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
No, that is not normal at all.
Sitting at a stop light for any length of time, 225-235 should be about as high as it gets.
Moving at any speed above 45mph, and you should never get over 200.
You need to make sure you don't have any airflow restrictions first. Radiator fins clogged up with leaves, bugs, feathers, etc.
Once you know you have proper airflow, then take a look at coolant flow. Old radiators do get clogged on the inside also.
Once they do, they won't cool like they should.
Sitting at a stop light for any length of time, 225-235 should be about as high as it gets.
Moving at any speed above 45mph, and you should never get over 200.
You need to make sure you don't have any airflow restrictions first. Radiator fins clogged up with leaves, bugs, feathers, etc.
Once you know you have proper airflow, then take a look at coolant flow. Old radiators do get clogged on the inside also.
Once they do, they won't cool like they should.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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2017 C4 of Year
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Unless you were going uphill, 251 it's time to run the heater and stop.
