Coolant Temperature

[SamH]

I can't seem to find any thread relating to what coolant temps should be so was wondering what are ideal, safe coolant temps during normal running and hard/track use.

Thanks in Advance.

(sorry if this is posted elsewhere!)

[Error404]

around 90 for normal use, I guess 90-105 maybe on track?

[T2Andy]

If all is working well ,thermostat and no air locks you would normaly see just under 90
and 1or 2 dashes above when working it really hard or sat in traffic hope that helps

[newsh]

So what if the temp drops to just above 50 on the motorway? Does this mean the thermostat is fooked?

[Veedub Geezer]

Sounds like the thermostat is stuck open.

[A80Avant]

no,
the sensor that the dash shows the temp is in the water collector and it is sensitive to the changes in temp when on motorway.So it shows the temp dropping because of the cold air rushing through the radiators cooling everything down. If you'd check the sensor behind the the engine (white) with a laser gun, OR watch temp with vagcom, you'd see that the engine's temp is actually within the thermostat's parameters. Mine for example almost never goes below 70C (but i have a lower thermostat as well).

[Error404]

when its at the mark just above 50 it is actually around 87deg The graduation on the gauge is not as it appears.
87deg is the stat opening temperature so on the motorway this is seems normal to me

[Rocco]

i got a little less 90º in motorway and a little more over 90º in city drive

and in 20 minutes track use with 28ºC ambient temp i did only one or two marks over 90ºC with the heater at HI and 130ºC oil temp

[SamH]

ahh cool, been getting a couple of notches below 90c cruising and around 90c if i put my foot down. Changed waterpump and to samco hoses and drained coolant, so just wanted to check the temps before ADI.

Thanks for the reponses.

[SamH]

i got a little less 90º in motorway and a little more over 90º in city drive

and in 20 minutes track use with 28ºC ambient temp i did only one or two marks over 90ºC with the heater at HI and 130ºC oil temp

Is it suggested to keep the heater on while your on track then to keep temps down?

[S2central.net]

A good trick is to PROPERLY short out the radiator fan switches - lot of frequent track day boys will actually have auxiliary switches and relays for this to flick the fan onto chosen speed... Its more for when sitting queued - once you get moving the cold air will do its thing... Oil temp is more of the concern but the S2 cooler works pretty well. Reckon on ~130 degrees oil temp when pushing some beans

[newsh]

Hmm, has to be said though that the heater goes colder on the motorway and a lot warmer in traffic..

Sorry for the hijack SamH

[johne]

Almost certain from what you've described that you need a new thermostat.

John

[SamH]

No worries newsh

@s2central.net - what are save levels for the oil temps would you say?

[S2central.net]

I'd be worried much higher than 130 for oil... Others might have different view - depends on your oil too of course - though nobody should be run sub-standard oil here - especially at a trackday.