temperature reading
05-01-02, 12:24 PM
#1
temperature reading
I owned this car for little over 2 years. Since the day I bought the car the temperature gauge always read exactly in the middle. I was driving yesterday and noticed that the temperature needle was actuallly covering the top of the bottom section of the indicators. eye of the indicator. So I would imageine that my engine is running cooler than it is supposed to. Should I start worrying? these are the best I can do with the pictures.
Last edited by VSsc400; 05-01-02 at 12:25 PM.
05-01-02, 12:47 PM
#3
Pole Position
My temp needle has been at what you reffer to as your "now" position since the day I bought the car and I dont think I have ever seen it move from that position once the car is warm.
05-01-02, 01:35 PM
#5
Racer
It could be a thermostat issue....
It could be that the thermostat is starting to stick in a slightly more open position than it used to. If your car is now taking longer to warm up, that could indicate a stuck thermostat.
I had a '72 BMW 3.0cs that overheated at times- on that engine it was easy to open the thermostat housing and take the thermostat out for some testing in boiling water. I don't think it is that easy to get at the thermostats in our V8's, though.
Thermostats are usually very reliable, unless the coolant is full of contaminants that would make the thermostat stick.
My car's temp gauge is usually at 3 o'clock, too, rather than the 4 o'clock position that SCream 400 and Smith report. When I ran my BMW without a thermostat, it never left 5:30!
I had a '72 BMW 3.0cs that overheated at times- on that engine it was easy to open the thermostat housing and take the thermostat out for some testing in boiling water. I don't think it is that easy to get at the thermostats in our V8's, though.
Thermostats are usually very reliable, unless the coolant is full of contaminants that would make the thermostat stick.
My car's temp gauge is usually at 3 o'clock, too, rather than the 4 o'clock position that SCream 400 and Smith report. When I ran my BMW without a thermostat, it never left 5:30!
Last edited by PERRYinLA; 05-01-02 at 01:42 PM.
05-01-02, 02:45 PM
#6
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92SC400
Just checked my new Repair Manuals, thanks Steve Ganz, and a 92 thermostat starts opening at 176 degrees and is fully opened at 186 degrees. Based on that I would agree that a new low tempeture would be the result of a sticking thermostat.
Having said that, the lower tempeture is not a bad thing. I have on order a 170 degree thermostat. the lower operating tempeture will allow the ECU to run more advance, in concept
Having said that, the lower tempeture is not a bad thing. I have on order a 170 degree thermostat. the lower operating tempeture will allow the ECU to run more advance, in concept
05-02-02, 07:33 AM
#7
last night I checked the temp and its back to the "before" position. I changed to generic thermostat so I will let you know what happens. I also bought a lexus original thermostat and the rubber seal and I will test with this tomorrow and post the result
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05-07-02, 12:42 PM
#8
for the last few days I have tried the OEM and (autozone) replacement thermostats and noticed that both when warmed up it is pointing slightly under the middle position. I drove close to 500 miles and the car runs smooth. When I turn the heat on max the temp needle does drop a little more. But when I turn the AC to max it doesn't move up, so I guess this means that car is running normal
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