Is the temperature normal

[DTWD]

Hi

I have just my car repaired as there was a problem with valve four and the heater.

Anyway, before it was fixed the engine temp at normal driving sat just under the first major bar about halfway up the gauge. You know you have that blank bit at the start then the little lines start then you get a big line and then smaller lines again then another big line then small lines and then a few different length ones at the top. Well mine used to sit under the first big line.

Now since its been fixed it sits on, just below or even nudges above the second line. So according to the gauge the engine is running a lot hotter. This is with normal driving again. It takes a while to get that hot but it does it. It also gets hotter quicker, is this something that the change of valve has done or the heater maybe? The heater has been broke for years now. Or could it be something else? He changed the thermostat, could it be that?

I just dont want it to get too hot, it was very hot normal driving on the motorway, I hate to think what might happen if I get stuck in traffic.



Paul

 

[cliosportcraig]

the thermostat may be dodgy ?

 

[Lucas]

There was a thread posted on coolant temperatures yesterday mate.

Its sounds to me that your car was running too cool before, and now is back to normal. The Clio manual suggests that it should run at around the second mark under normal driving conditions.

This change in temperature will be down to having a new thermostat. When thermostats get old they have a tendancy to stay fully open, which flows too much coolant around the engine. This means the engine will take longer to warm up, and the coolant will generally stay too cool.

It sounds like its doing its job properly now, as the engine is heating up quicker (much better for your engine as the oil will also heat up quicker), and that running temperature sounds perfectly normal (same as mine with a new thermostat)

No need to worry, fella

Luc

 

[cliosportcraig]

Does the heater work really well now ? If it does it might be that the thermostat is not opening early enough and the hot water isnt circulating around the radiator !! BTW the water temp can happily sit at 1/2 !!

 

[cliosportcraig]

Yeah id go with lucas !! The temp atm is fine !! and was probably over cooled before !! Which would make the heater crap aswell !! seems fine mate !!

 

[DTWD]

Well he fixed the valve and replaced the head gasket and the car started running properly. Then I asked him to take a look at the heater. He said the problem I had had with mine might have had something to do with the heater but he would have a look. It didnt work so he changed the thermostat. Still didnt work, so changed the heater matrix, so yes it works now. Really well, it actually demists the windows under 2 mins from a cold start. Which compared to before is amazing, it took about 20 mins before, at least.

So as long as you guys say its running ok temperature wise I am well happy. Responds so much better now since the valve has been fixed.

The mechanic didnt like my exhaust though, said it was too loud when you opend it up. He took my dad out and showed him, and he doesnt like it now. hehehehe sounds wicked though, especially with the decat, its pop city.

Paul