Help - my car is running too cold
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 68
Total Cats: 0
Help - my car is running too cold
Due to heating problems I'd change my rad to a PWR rad and installed M-tuned's coolant reroute this summer. The new set up gave me great improvement and the former heating problems were gone (as long as I speak of coolant temperature since I still suffer from high IAT). On track this summer I had stable coolant temperatures a touch over 88 F.
But that was when we had nice summer temperatures. Now it’s getting colder and in temperatures around 37-40 F I face a new problem: I can't get my coolant temp to stay over 158-160 F when cruising. And it takes close to an eternity to get the engine warm (even with the heater turned off).
I have a 180 F T-stat that is working just fine.
Coolant/Water mixture aprox 50/50.
Anyone experienced similar problems? I was pretty sure that the t-stat was stuck open but it was working just great. Mayby I have to try to cover the rad. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Andreas
But that was when we had nice summer temperatures. Now it’s getting colder and in temperatures around 37-40 F I face a new problem: I can't get my coolant temp to stay over 158-160 F when cruising. And it takes close to an eternity to get the engine warm (even with the heater turned off).
I have a 180 F T-stat that is working just fine.
Coolant/Water mixture aprox 50/50.
Anyone experienced similar problems? I was pretty sure that the t-stat was stuck open but it was working just great. Mayby I have to try to cover the rad. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Andreas
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 68
Total Cats: 0
Thanks for helping me out here. I hope I understood your question right here...
From the reroute adapter at the rear of the engine the oe hose runs to the heater core.
The t-stat has an orifice that my former 160 F t-stat didn't have. I’m not sure of the diameter though. But it's a tiny one...
Andreas
#4
Cpt. Slow
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,224
Total Cats: 1,146
That little bypass on the thermostat shouldn't be an issue. I'd say double check that the thermostat isn't stuck open, and then count your blessings that you're not overheating and put some duct tape over the radiator.
#5
I am having a problem with temps running too low as well. I have my fan on a switch, and I do not run it when I am cruising. If the car is not moving for very long the temps start to go up. The down side is, when the fan is on a switch, it is easy to forget to turn it on when the car is sitting and engine is running.
#8
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
I also put a blocker over the radiator. However, that's not enough, so now I'm wedging cardboard over 2/3 of the mouth. I'm jumping a lot more water past the thermostat than most though.
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 68
Total Cats: 0
Thanks for your help guys!
In my eager to find more information I got stuck in the peter pan reroute thread... long read…awesome...
I'm sure of that the t-stat is working. I have no problems with the fan switch. I'll check in- and outlet to the heater core just to make sure they are as before the reroute. Next step is cardboard in front of the rad.
Thanks!
Andreas
In my eager to find more information I got stuck in the peter pan reroute thread... long read…awesome...
I'm sure of that the t-stat is working. I have no problems with the fan switch. I'll check in- and outlet to the heater core just to make sure they are as before the reroute. Next step is cardboard in front of the rad.
Thanks!
Andreas
Last edited by Andreas; 10-26-2009 at 09:51 AM. Reason: spell check
#14
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
I know. However, I can run all day long in 100* summer heat, under the SM lap record. I wouldn't have it set-up like that if it didn't matter. I'm going to throw a restriction in there and see if it helps a bit. I've even thought about sticking a ball-valve in there.
#16
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,507
Total Cats: 4,080
I was trying to figure out why the car I was tuning last week took so god damn long to get up to temp, then i remembered he installed the begi reroute and put the return on the upper radiator hose. I'm having him splice it back into the lower.
#19
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
If I only drove this car on the street, I'd have a stock cooling system.