Running to cool

[peter canepa]

A while back my radiator sprung a leak. No stock radiator's in the US, so I got this alunimum one, really for racing. Now the water temp gauge barely ever moves off the bottom, almost like its broken. This can't be right? The mechanic I have has no clue about this car.
Peter

[GeoffSmith]

Could be the thermostat stuck open (possibly after disturbing sediment when the radiator was replaced?) - do an ElanScan run from cold to confirm.

[Doug]

I agree with Geoff. Unless you have one big, efficient radiator, a low running temp is a sign of a t-stat stuck open. I had mine do this for a while before it failed closed!!
When it sat the temp would come up a bit but never got hot; while driving it would drop to the bottom of the gauge and then the car would go to "cold idle speed" when stopped again.
Sounds like a quick t-stat change is in order -- you could always take your t-stat out and drop in a pan of water--you should be able to see it open at specified temp (180 degrees F, I think?) and then close as the water cools. Problem is by the time you take it out to check it, you may as well just drop a new one in and be done.
But you could then examine the old one in hot water to confirm the problem for piece of mind.

Thermostat replacement instructions and info is here from the old write-up
you can likely find related info in the Forum too or on the Wiki . . . .

[peter canepa]

Thanks guys, I'm on it.
Peter

[rip]

Problem is by the time you take it out to check it, you may as well just drop a new one in and be done.

For the amount a new one costs, it's not really worth putting the old one back even if it is ok. I also agree that a stuck stat is the most likely cause of this.

[kurgen]

Seems ok to me mate! Mine only ever gets up to the point where the fans cut in if the cars been in heavy traffic, or has been ticking over for ages. But the heater is still hot when the gauge shows barely anything, so the stat must be opening.
dave

[peter canepa]

Kurgen,
Good point, the heater works fine, the car seems to run fine. Before the new Radiator, the gauge would go higher, and as you say, stuck in traffic, hot day, AC on, the cooling fans would come on, the gauge would go down to mid range. The weather here has been cool lately, haven't had chance to run it HOT. Thermostat easy to replace and try out, but it might be something else, even the gauge.
Thanks
Peter

[GeoffSmith]

Peter, to see exactly what is going on, Elanscan it - that's what you bought an interface for!