Temperature Guage

Just curious, where does the needle in the temp guage sit at on your cars? We've seen some fluctuations in a few cars and wondering where the average is? In heavier traffic especially summer, I've seen some up at 210 deg F.

Straight up is normal (about 180-190 degrees F). Maybe time to clean the debris from your radiators? If, they are clean, then you may want to consider a 3rd radiator add on. <img src="http://www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx/p96064.jpg" alt=" - " />

Do they run progressively hotter as they get older as a general rule? Running at high way speeds it is fine, only in traffice it runs to 210 deg F.

Check your coolant level--mine usually runs a hair above 180 degrees, and last week was a bit warmer, so I checked and need to top off the coolant.

speaking of the third radiator, it is amazing how this little piece of equipment can add so much benefit to cooling of the car. I noticed that the air conditioner radiator is in front of my radiator on the front and that it blocks the stock radiator. Therefore, even though you are cruising in cold wind it will still take time for the stock radiator to get cold air because the air conditioner radiator is in the way. Ever since I installed my 3rd radiator, it has helped my car cool 30 deg within 1-2 minute of coasting 70 mph in cool wind. (From the second to last line on the temperature gauge, to roughly the middle line on the guage.) In comparison, without this radiator, if my car was at the second to last temperature mark, it would take 5 minutes before it even gets between the middle of the center and second to last temperature mark. So far I have also noticed that the radiator fans have never had the need to come on since putting on this radiator. To answer the concern about your car getting hot in traffic, mine still does, but it takes about twice as long to do so since with a third radiator you have more water to boil, and even if it does get hot, it cools down twice as fast.

My needle gets up to say 1 o'clock in heavy traffic which is about before the mark after the 80deg (or 180deg in US cars).. when i run over 150, no matter what the pressure, it stays at +12oclock.. I guess it's normal.. Waz <img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/temp.JPG" alt=" - " />

My car runs at about 210 in hot weather in traffic. Soon as I start to go it cools down pretty fast. I asked them to clean out the radiator when they changed my front bumper and it did not do anything...

Hi Waz mine looks exactly like yours...sits in the same spot, but i dont really remember how it was when I bought the car

I know when i bought the car and had 10,000km less (60,000) it was not going to those extremes.. then again, my car was owned by a missuse, a lady, the feminin soft huggeable loveable species.. if you know what i mean! Waz Out of topic but always loved this quote: Note to the Ladies; Never under any circumstances interrupt a man overcome by the realization that he is about to �Build�. It�s our way of compensating for our inability to give birth.

If it didnt read high levels when your first bought the car, what causes it to read high levels now? If the rad was clogged the temp wouldnt drop when you were driving at highway speeds. It doesn't make sense at all. So what would cause this high reading? I think the thermostat might be screwed. For it to not get a low reading at a stop, like it once did when it was new, then it has to be something clogging now the air flow BUT the coolant flow.

RR, You are speculating the water pump getting weak? Is there a pressure sensor for that?! I guess there are other electronics involved also.. The MAF and the O2 Sensors among a zillion other things.. just learned even a lose gas tank cap can cause a check engine light! too bad i cant diagnose in this part of the world, but if you do find the anomaly please let us all know, i've seen this complain several times.. Waz