Cooling system question

[kroberts]

I drove my car around the neighborhood a little again yesterday (shitty loud). I've been trying to get it up into a normal operating temperature range. When I pulled back into my driveway, I checked my hoses and noticed that the top hose (radiator in) was hard and hot (no pun intended). The bottom hose was still cool. Obviously this means my thermostat isn't open yet. Problem is I tend to get a little nervous and assume the worst.

I know this may be a hard question to answer given the fact that gauges and sensors vary a little but I'll ask anyway. Relative to needle position, at what point should I expect the thermostat to open? I have an 88 deg thermostat installed. I managed to get the temp gauge needle just straight up, about 11:30 position. What is normal for needle position?

Thanks for your continued patience.

kr

[PiercedE30]

Holy crap, an 88* thermostat?! I've got a 75* with a 80/88 fan switch.
About the hose; I was the same way when I first got it started. I actually thought I had blown my head gasket I was so paranoid about it.

[kroberts]

Dude, I didn't need to read that!

I needed to order some parts anyway

kr


Thanks for the hose reassurance though.

[EtaSport]

88 is oem, i had it for awhile and i forget what I switched too. The brand new thermostat i bought originally was defective from day one and the engine always ran hotter, installed a new one and it took care of the problem. Usually when I see these issues on cars at the dealer, they have air trapped in the system.. Which radiator are you running?

I like the m42 cause it has the "pisser" in the overflow tank. Its a great way to see if coolant is circulating.

[kroberts]

I'm basically running an E30 325 cooling system. I bought a new radiator for the swap. I had to replace it anyway, the S14 radiator was tiny. I bought one of those high-flow Stewart water pumps too. I'm pretty confident that I have the cooling system well bled.

kr

[1990m3]

keep bleeding the cooling system. I've had to do it a few times (for various reasons) and one time it literally took me half a day to bleed the system properly. The needle should sit just below the half point at normal operating temperature, just like it would if the stock drivetrain were in the car. i've had an e30 325 radiator and a 318is radiator and my gauge reads the same way no matter which radiator is in the system.

I have no educated comment as to when the thermostat opens with relation to the gauge but I would say it's right when the needle leaves the blue zone.

[loonibab325i]

Kenny, I'm in the same position as you!! I drove the car around and the buttom hose was still a bit cool, while the top hose was warm... i didn't drive it much though, but with the 3-4 minutes i drove/idled my car i wasn't even close to 50/50 on the gauge. You will be alright though!

-Abe.

[loonibab325i]

Kenny, I'm in the same position as you!! I drove the car around and the buttom hose was still a bit cool, while the top hose was warm... i didn't drive it much though, but with the 3-4 minutes i drove/idled my car i wasn't even close to 50/50 on the gauge. You will be alright though!

-Abe.