cliffs: the car runs at the upper end of the normal operating temp range under load, and at dead center on the gauge when not under load or engine braking. normal? or is part of the cooling system worn or failing causing the variation in temp. am i just being paranoid, and this is perfectly normal? i think not, but you never know...
the long version: in the past few weeks i've noticed that my car has been running a bit warmer than in the past. it's never getting above the marks on the gauge that indicate normal operating temp, but up until recently the needle has set dead nuts on at the center of the gauge. now, driving around town or on the highway with the motor under load the needle will head towards the high mark for normal operating temp and stay there. it never goes above it (yet), but i know a cool running motor is a happy, long lasting one.
initially i attributed it to the hot weather, or hard driving, as it started right around when i drove to charleston a few weeks ago when it was 105+ degrees out. at 65-80mph on the highway the temp would fluctuate between straight up and the high mark. today it was mid 70s to mid 80's, same deal with the higher operating temps. *driving downhill, engine braking, or the like the temp sits dead on at center on the gauge. the car will run around the high average mark at idle*
i feel like some portion of the cooling system is getting worn causing the fluctuation, i'd rather fix it before it becomes a real issue. when i did my timing belt 2 summers ago i skipped the water pump because it looked good. impeller was in good shape, no fore and aft or side to side play, all fins in good shape. the "old" belt itself looked great, almost new, so i kind of assumed that the pump & belt had been replaced prior to my ownership. the timing belt was a peace of mind job for me since i had no maintenance records.
thoughts? fan clutch? t-stat? am i a retard for not doing my water pump before? i wouldn't be bummed if i am, because i could thrown in a cam if i pull the tb again, but that would be a worst case scenario right now...
the long version: in the past few weeks i've noticed that my car has been running a bit warmer than in the past. it's never getting above the marks on the gauge that indicate normal operating temp, but up until recently the needle has set dead nuts on at the center of the gauge. now, driving around town or on the highway with the motor under load the needle will head towards the high mark for normal operating temp and stay there. it never goes above it (yet), but i know a cool running motor is a happy, long lasting one.
initially i attributed it to the hot weather, or hard driving, as it started right around when i drove to charleston a few weeks ago when it was 105+ degrees out. at 65-80mph on the highway the temp would fluctuate between straight up and the high mark. today it was mid 70s to mid 80's, same deal with the higher operating temps. *driving downhill, engine braking, or the like the temp sits dead on at center on the gauge. the car will run around the high average mark at idle*
i feel like some portion of the cooling system is getting worn causing the fluctuation, i'd rather fix it before it becomes a real issue. when i did my timing belt 2 summers ago i skipped the water pump because it looked good. impeller was in good shape, no fore and aft or side to side play, all fins in good shape. the "old" belt itself looked great, almost new, so i kind of assumed that the pump & belt had been replaced prior to my ownership. the timing belt was a peace of mind job for me since i had no maintenance records.
thoughts? fan clutch? t-stat? am i a retard for not doing my water pump before? i wouldn't be bummed if i am, because i could thrown in a cam if i pull the tb again, but that would be a worst case scenario right now...
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