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YOUR RESEARCHPrefered replacement thermostat 71C or 83C?
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Check because what you are reporting is abnormally high
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However, I think it is a very good idea to have your cooling system checked because what you are reporting is abnormally high.
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These radiators are each fitted with an electric fan.
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Suggestion
You should check the DME readings directly if you really want to know what temp your cars runs at.
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Suggestion
Easy to check, just lay on the ground and you will spot it.
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In traffic, my 996 is running at close to 200 degrees. Should I have a 160 degree thermostat installed? The car is going into the shop to find where or if my cooling system is leaking. The coolant reservoir is white, new looking, but there was the faint odor of coolant at the rear left wheel well. I'm at 6300ft elevation, 87 degrees ambient temperature and I realize a leak could cause my car to run hot.... I did a search and did find some information about coolant temperature, but nothing referring to options for thermostat....
The standard thermostat is 180 degrees, so it will be full open at around that temp. The low temperature thermostat is 160 degrees, and so will be full open at around 160. So it opens sooner at a lower temp. However, I think it is a very good idea to have your cooling system checked because what you are reporting is abnormally high. At that temp, are your radiators fans running on high? Engine bay fan coming on? Does your expansion tank cap end with a P/N 04? Earlier caps were prone to leaking, so Porsche upgraded the caps 4 times. The expansion tank cap can leak and it drains down in a hose to just behind the rear left wheel. Check that hose for wetness or coolant.
A good shop will pressurize your coolant system and check to see if it holds pressure. If not, then the fun begins.
Mine does the same. I don�t think a low temp thermostat will prevent increased temps in stop and go traffic. The only thing that removes heat from this car are the front radiators and the airflow through them. Stop and go = low airflow.
I don�t think 200F is all that bad in traffic, assuming that your car�s cooling system is working properly.
Here�s how all this stuff is supposed to work:Engine Thermostat
The OEM thermostat starts to open at 187 degrees and is fully open at 210 degrees.
On my 1999 C2, Between the 8 and 0 is 194F, Right in the middle of 0 is 100C. Right edge of 0 is 103-105C. On later cars, it can be different. You should check the DME readings directly if you really want to know what temp your cars runs at.
Electric fans
There are two radiator modules installed in the front of the vehicle (on the left- and right-hand side). These radiators are each fitted with an electric fan. They can be operated at two speeds and are activated by the DME control unit whenever the following conditions apply:
Electric fan, speed 1
(Ground to DME control unit, terminal 35)
Coolant temperature higher than 96.75�C or air conditioning switched on.
Electric fan, speed 2
(Ground to DME control unit, terminal 36)
Coolant temperature > 102�C or air-conditioning fluid pressure switch closed (coolant pressure > 16 bar).
Note: The electric fans for the radiators are only triggered when the engine is running!
Engine bay fan:
The engine compartment purge fan rarely comes on.
From the service manual...
"Switch-on conditions for engine compartment fan (this fan pulls air into the engine compartment) The engine compartment fan is switched on when the engine compartment temperature is > 176 degrees F or the coolant temperature is > 216 degrees F.
After-running of engine compartment fan
If the ignition is switched off and the engine compartment temperature is more than 140 degrees F, the
DME
control module remains in readiness for another 20 minutes. During this time, the engine compartment temperature is retrieved every 10 seconds. If the engine compartment temperature is > 185 degrees F , the engine compartment fan is switched on for 20 seconds. If the engine compartment temperature is still > 185 degrees F after this time, the fan remains on for a further 30 seconds."
Here is the long explanation from the service manual on the flashing coolant light.
"Four functions of the coolant warning light:
1. Engine coolant level too low -- light flashes slowly (0.5 Hz)
2. Engine compartment temperature too high -- light flashes slowly (0.5 Hz) (engine compartment blower might be faulty)
3. Engine coolant temperature too high -- light is lit; pointer on the right
4. Temperature sensor at water outlet faulty -- light flashes rapidly (1 Hz) ; pointer on the right
Note: The temperature warning in point three is indicated if the conditions "engine coolant temperature too high" and "engine coolant level too low" are present simultaneously.�
There is a coolant hose(with a T-junction) at the rear left which runs close to the exhaust. I replaced mine a few weeks ago since it was cracked in the junction. Easy to check, just lay on the ground and you will spot it.
I've been looking in to the cooling of the car this spring with modifications and test drives. This mod helps cooling noticeably:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-radiator.html
For normal road driving I would avoid the low temp thermostat as it will run too cold in most cases. I switched back to OEM. My LTT(Wahler) was also faulty, be aware of quality issues with LTT. Read from post 76 for my experience:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ew-life-6.html
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
