Coolant temperature too high
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 326
Likes: 1
From: Cologne (Köln) Germany
Coolant temperature too high
While driving around in town around noon (air temperature is around 50 deg F), I noticed a somewhat high oil temperature, which was caused by the coolant getting pretty hot, that is, up to 220 deg F. Usually I only check the oil temperature, but still this kind of temperature seems to be a bit on the high side.
The coolant reservoir seems to be full. I cannot see the liquid level which hopefully means that the level is above the transparent part and not that the reservoir is virtually empty.Before I open the reservoir I want to wait until the coolant temperature is somewhat lower. One of the fans (to my knowledge there are two) indeed starts working at high coolant temperatures. I checked the front of the radiator from underneath the car and I found some dirt, but too little to explain the problem. I also checked the codes of the DIC and there were none. The car is stock.
I am in Germany, the time is 2:30pm and the service stations are closed.
Does anybody have an idea what is going on?
Thanks, Robert
The coolant reservoir seems to be full. I cannot see the liquid level which hopefully means that the level is above the transparent part and not that the reservoir is virtually empty.Before I open the reservoir I want to wait until the coolant temperature is somewhat lower. One of the fans (to my knowledge there are two) indeed starts working at high coolant temperatures. I checked the front of the radiator from underneath the car and I found some dirt, but too little to explain the problem. I also checked the codes of the DIC and there were none. The car is stock.
I am in Germany, the time is 2:30pm and the service stations are closed.
Does anybody have an idea what is going on?
Thanks, Robert
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,997
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
If your coolant level is ok and there is nothing restricting airflow in the front of the car your thermostat could be sticking partially closed and preventing coolant from getting through. 220 is high unless your stuck in traffic on a hot day. Mine runs around 190. .02 deposited.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 326
Likes: 1
From: Cologne (Köln) Germany
Thanks for your quick replies, guys. Meanwhile I had the car standing and the coolant temperature dropped to 190 deg F. I opened the cap of the reservoir and found that the level of the liquid is about as high as it can be, that is, it reaches the sieve underneath the opening.
As TigerShark pointed out, there might be a problem with the thermostat. To you Florida guys: you are probably used to air temperatures much higher than 50 deg F. I am more used to Mike's coolant temperature value of around 200 deg F.
As TigerShark pointed out, there might be a problem with the thermostat. To you Florida guys: you are probably used to air temperatures much higher than 50 deg F. I am more used to Mike's coolant temperature value of around 200 deg F.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 226
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From: Palo Alto Ca
high temps
I know that you looked up at the raditors but the only way to be sure is to get it on a lift and with an extention to an air gun blow it out you would be supprised how much s*$t comes out .....dropped my temps 5 degrees .....you need to get both the air conditioner and the coolent raditor clean....you will need something smaller than 3/8's tubing to get between the two good luck
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From: Manassas Park VA
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I know that you looked up at the raditors but the only way to be sure is to get it on a lift and with an extention to an air gun blow it out you would be supprised how much s*$t comes out .....dropped my temps 5 degrees .....you need to get both the air conditioner and the coolent raditor clean....you will need something smaller than 3/8's tubing to get between the two good luck
And when you are done, pop in some Watter Wetter, that will be good for another 5 to 10 degree's of temp drop...
Peace
Chip
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 326
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From: Cologne (Köln) Germany
Gray Weasel, you are probably right. I parked the car perpendicular to the road with the front wheels at the curbstone and I barely managed to get my head underneath the car so that I could see the front of the radiator. I could not see the back of the radiator nor anything else that might get clogged as well. I already made an appointment on Monday at a local service technician.
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Does seem a little high for 50 degree outside temp, but it's not all that bad. Keep an eye on it - could be a sticky thermostat too.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,744
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From: Layton Utah
You said you were driving around town which to me means stop and go traffic. Even at 50 degrees I will see my oil temps around 214-216 degrees. These engines just run hotter than what we have been used to thus the reason for the synthetic oil. I just don't think you have a problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
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From: Ocean Springs MS
You said you were driving around town which to me means stop and go traffic. Even at 50 degrees I will see my oil temps around 214-216 degrees. These engines just run hotter than what we have been used to thus the reason for the synthetic oil. I just don't think you have a problem.
If you are talking about stop and go traffic in town, the temps you see are normal, and the engine is designed to run at those temps. Actually, both fans are either off or on. When they are on they have either a low or high speed setting. If your AC is off, the fans stay off until 226 F (the fan temp settings vary a few degrees in different model years. My numbers are for an 02.) With no fans on and no airflow through the radiator in stop and go traffic, your temps will get up to 226 even in very cool temps. At 226, the fans come on low, and if it is cool out, the temps will stabilize. If it is warm, or you have done mods to significantly increase HP (stroker or supercharger,) the temps will keep increasing. High speed fans will come on at 235. Unless something is wrong with your cooling system, even in a hot summer climate, your temps should go down at this point. The fans switch back to low at 226 and then off at 209. If your AC is on, below 30mph, where you no longer get airflow, the fans come on low, as long as your cooling system has warmed above 165 F. So running your AC in moderate temps can make your car run cooler, as it doesn't wait for the the coolant to get to 226 to turn on the fans.
