m20 running temp

[tinindian]

Hi,

I've only run e30's with M42's in the past and the engine temp never went past 1/3 weather driving on the freeway or sitting in traffic on a hot summer day. I just picked up an 87 cabby and find that it stays cool while I'm driving but when stopped or moving slowly in traffic the temp creeps up to about halfway.

Is this normal?

I have changed the clutch on the fan so it's new, actually before I changed it the temp would go past halfway and start heading to 3/4.

Thanks,

[jlevie]

Normal temperature would be with the needle between the tic mark and the half way mark. The rise you observed would make me think first of the fan clutch, but you've already replaced that. My next suspicion would be the thermostat.

[tinindian]

Thanks,

I'll try a new t-stat when I get a chance next week.

[strad]

Normal temperature would be with the needle between the tic mark and the half way mark. The rise you observed would make me think first of the fan clutch, but you've already replaced that. My next suspicion would be the thermostat.

Sorta a thread jack, not really. Would that be with a normal temp thermostat (80C)? Mine runs right at the first tic, with a 75 C stat.

[RoDo]

Sorta a thread jack, not really. Would that be with a normal temp thermostat (80C)? Mine runs right at the first tic, with a 75 C stat.

Similar deal here. I run a 71C thermostat and normal is the first mark (quarter tank so to speak). When the old 80C thermostat was in there normal was the second mark (high noon).

[Hallen]

Really? The other two BMW's I had/have all run dead center (E32/E46). My E30 was running at 1/4, but I was thinking that was because it had some lower temp opening T-stat.

I know newer cars probably use some kind of computer to make the gauge go dead center within a certain relatively wide temp spec, but it seems odd that normal is 1/4. I had never seen that said here before. I guess you learn something new every day, huh?

[tinindian]

Has anyone tried a comparison between the hot t-stat and the cold to see if you noticed a difference on performance and gas mileage? I know modern cars are designed to run hotter than in the past to help improve the economy.

[buzdof]

Has anyone tried a comparison between the hot t-stat and the cold to see if you noticed a difference on performance and gas mileage? I know modern cars are designed to run hotter than in the past to help improve the economy.

I have, actually. I don't have exact numbers, but I did get lower gas mileage (1-3 mpg) with a lower temp t-stat.

[NC325iC]

id rather lose 1-3 mpg than burn up my engine

[roriii]

same thing happens to me...probably fan clutch but it never goes above the 1/2 mark