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It is nice knowing what temp everything is running at but if you do not know what is bad it does nothing for you. I looked in the owners manual but can not find what the normal operating temps are. I have an 01 Vert, automatic.
I experience around 185 while driving and if I sit in traffic on real hot day the temps will go as high as 220-225. Others seem to experience about the same temps.
If you are experiencing temps to high when sitting in traffic check the front of the radiator and a/c condensor. The C5's are notorius for sucking up leaves and trash up in there.
If you have a stock thermostat and stock 220, 230 fan settings depending on your climate it could range from 200ish to 230ish again depending on setup and climate. While moving it will obviously stay cooler than when sitting in traffic or at a long light.
Am I missing something here? Wouldn't a stock 195 degree thermostat attempt to hold the temperature at 195? Granted, actual temps may be somewhat lower or higher depending on specific immediate conditons, but won't the thermostat attempt to maintain a 195 degree temperature?
Am I missing something here? Wouldn't a stock 195 degree thermostat attempt to hold the temperature at 195? Granted, actual temps may be somewhat lower or higher depending on specific immediate conditons, but won't the thermostat attempt to maintain a 195 degree temperature?
Sort of. The thermostat determines the minimum temperature that the engine will settle out at. The upper end is determined by the fan settings, car moving, ambient air temp, radiator cleanliness, etc., etc.
Ed
I appreciate the responses. What about the trans and oil?
Mark
The high temperature warning will come in at 277*F. You really want to keep the transmission as cool as possible, but it is my understanding that the seals/o-rings and such are the main mode of failure of habitually high temperature transmissions. Of course complete viscosity breakdown will occur at certain temps (I don't know what those temperatures are). I have a cooler, a big one, but my A4 sees 230 regularily during extended periods on the track. I don't think that is out of range.
The engine oil is another beast altogether, due to the fact of combustion taking place. Our Mobil 1 equipped engines are much better able to withstand high temperatures that conventionally oiled engines.
Maybe you should look around on some oil manufacturers websites for the tempertures that they claim their oils can operate under.
Also, I'm not sure what temperature the M6 warns of 'high temp'. My A4 is 277*F though.