Where on the temp gauge is your swap running?

[z31maniac]

OBD-I S52, seems to be running a bit hotter today (just highway driving taking it easy) than it was on Thursday thrashing on it in my dads warehouse parking lot.

It's running just on the hot side of the middle mark under load and dead center at idle. This new warmer running condition has also been accompanied by a check engine light. Engine seems to be running fine, but I don't have access to an OBD-I code reader.

I'm hoping I'll be able to take it to one of the specialty shops on Monday to get the code read. O2, DME coolant and crank sensor are all new.

Any ideas? Honestly I have a sneaking suspicion about the headgasket.

[Farbin Kaiber]

tarbo build? hx35 and a 666 mani in your future?

[z31maniac]

Nope, if something is up with this motor, I'll most likely say fuck it and part everything.

I'd suspect the radiator cap if I hadn't got the CEL as well, but maybe it's just coincidence?

[Fidhle007]

I'll bet money it's an O2 code...

Not that that relates to your warm engine but that's pretty common with swaps unless you're really good with your wiring. Check the overflow line from your rad to your tank, mine was plugged and gave me every symptom of a blown headgasket. It was easily solved with an air hose.

[JGood]

OBD-I S52, seems to be running a bit hotter today (just highway driving taking it easy) than it was on Thursday thrashing on it in my dads warehouse parking lot.

It's running just on the hot side of the middle mark under load and dead center at idle. This new warmer running condition has also been accompanied by a check engine light. Engine seems to be running fine, but I don't have access to an OBD-I code reader.

I'm hoping I'll be able to take it to one of the specialty shops on Monday to get the code read. O2, DME coolant and crank sensor are all new.

Any ideas? Honestly I have a sneaking suspicion about the headgasket.

I don't think that's necessarily "hot". That's where mine sits. You are looking at a 20 year old gauge, maybe you could get a more accurate temp reading somehow?

[z31maniac]

Do the S5x motors just naturally run hotter than the M20 as well? It's the stock M3 thermostat(new), new water pump and new E30 radiator.

I noticed with the temp gauge just above middle yesterday, when I turned the car off the coolant was boiling/bubbling. So could it just be a problem with the overflow tank/cap not allowing the system to build enough pressure?

Fack!

[MIKe30]

Do the S5x motors just naturally run hotter than the M20 as well? It's the stock M3 thermostat(new), new water pump and new E30 radiator.

I noticed with the temp gauge just above middle yesterday, when I turned the car off the coolant was boiling/bubbling. So could it just be a problem with the overflow tank/cap not allowing the system to build enough pressure?

Fack!

I'm about to use a new m42 radiator, all these running warm threads aren't looking good!

[asubimmer]

I'm about to use a new m42 radiator, all these running warm threads aren't looking good!

I've been running my m42 rad for about 2.5 years now with no problems and the same in my friends swap for about a year. He doesn't even have his electric fan wired up, still...

[Van Westervelt]

Mine always sits a tick below the half line.

Do the stomp test to read your check engine codes, then read the number of flashes. You know how to do this right? I have a reader but dont always have it with me if I am helping someone, so its a good method to learn.

Turn the key to on, 5 stomps to the floor on the gas pedal within 5 seconds.

[Van Westervelt]

Here are the codes (from Bentley):

1211: DME Control Module
1215: Mass Air Flow
1216: Throttle potentiometer
1218: Output Stage Group 1
1219: Output Stage Group 2
1221: O2 Sensor 1
1212: O2 Sensor 2
1222: O2 lean/rich control stop
1213: O2 sensor 2 lean/rich c/s
1223: Coolant Temp Sensor
1224: Air Temp Sensor
1225: Knock sensor 1
1226: Knock Sensor 2
1231: Battery Voltage Monitor
1232: Idle Position Signal
1233: Wide Open Throttle Signal
1234: Speedometer A signal
1237: A/C cut-off
1242: A/C signal
1243: Crankshaft Position Sensor
1244: Camshaft Position Sensor
1245: Elect. Tranny control intervention
1247: Ignition Secondary Monitor
1251: Fuel injectors 1,3,5
1252: Fuel injectors 2,4,6
1251: Fuel Injector 1
1252: Fuel Injector 2
1253: Fuel Injector 3
1254: Fuel Injector 4
1255: Fuel Injector 5
1256: Fuel Injector 6
1261: Fuel Pump
1262: Idle Speed Control
1263: Evap. System
1264: O2 Sensor Heater
1265: Check Engine Lamp
1266: VANOS
1267: Air Pump
1271: Ignition Coil 1
1272: Ignition Coil 2
1273: Ignition Coil 3
1274: Ignition Coil 4
1275: Ignition Coil 5
1276: Ignition Coil 6
1281: DME Memory
1282: Fault Code Memory
1283: Fuel Injector Output Stage
1286: Knock Control test pulse
1000: End of faults
1444: No faults

[atldohc]

yes try the stomp test. seems to work for me if i start stomping immediately after turning the key to on. for what its worth i also have an obd1 s52 and it will occasionally get right above the halfway mark. ive been driving the car for months with no issues. im running the stock m20b25 cooling fan flipped around to give more radiator clearance, and also the stock auxiliary fan. and i did keep the a/c as well. my auxiliary fan resistor was cracked so i just bypassed it and the fan always turns on to high speed. also running the cooler thermostat and temp switch from http://www.e30dohc.com/wiki/index.ph...HC_Swap_Basics

[Mossman]

I run at 1 tick to the left of middle with a stock thermostat and a little hole drilled in it, no fan (have a pusher wired to a/c button but dont need it unless i'm in slow traffic)

[z31maniac]

Mine always sits a tick below the half line.

Do the stomp test to read your check engine codes, then read the number of flashes. You know how to do this right? I have a reader but dont always have it with me if I am helping someone, so its a good method to learn.

Turn the key to on, 5 stomps to the floor on the gas pedal within 5 seconds.

No, I'll search it when I get home........I hate furniture salesmen! Thanks for posting up the codes though!

[WADE30]

I live in Phoenix, AZ. Its been 115+ lately. I have M50 Vanos and my gauge sits at half way or a tick past.

[bmws50b30]

mine sits in the middle when idling and a tick to the left when moving. it reads past the middle when i start the engine after driving but it settles in the middle after a minute or 2.

s50, m20 radiator and stock fan.