Runs hot, but not overheating

[Gamble97]

I am posting this for a friend. 96 auto awd. Just recently installed new timing belt, water pump, intake cone, bc272 cams, uicp, 1g bov. 125k Miles on her as well. Also, added some royal purple ice to try and get the temps down.

First off the car is a 1996 tsi AWD auto. The problem is that I seem to be throwing excessive heat from the engine bay even when the car has just been idling for a few minutes. The hose to the radiator instantly is heated and becomes hard, so I don't believe it's the thermostat. Also, both the fans do turn on and off. This all happens without my coolant temp raising past the half way mark. I have recently replaced the timing belt, water pump, and put in some bc 272's. Anyone have any ideas? I was told maybe the switches on the thermostat housing?

 

[Defiant]

This all happens without my coolant temp raising past the half way mark.

DSMs run hot, and they're supposed to. You're not overheating.

 

[vaboys2ndgen]

just wait until a big FMIC gets in the way. . . ugh.

 

[Gamble97]

I'm just saying for comparasion, my modded dsm (see profile) doesn't seem to get that hot in the engine bay and I took off the heatshields and have a fmic.

 

[vaboys2ndgen]

i know my 96 auto gsx gets hot as hell under the hood.

 

[Gamble97]

Edited my first post, never changed the upper radiator hose.

 

[99gst_racer]

If his coolant temps aren't exceeding 220* F., then I wouldn't worry about it. These cars are just naturally warm underneath the hood. If he want's to help that, tell him to vent the hood above the exhaust manifold.

 

[Gamble97]

He's going to bring the car over this weekend and I'm going to borrow a logger and see what it is.
Is it possible or is there a way to tell if the switches on the thermostat housing are going bad? Or the coolant temp sensor?

 

[Defiant]

Of course. Pull and test, per the shop manual. But you'll be the only one doing it. Once pulled, they're usually replaced. It's not worth the shop time to test them.

 

[Gamble97]

Well I'm going to plug a logger into it this weekend and see what she's reading. I'll search the vfaq for a way to test the connector.

 

[DGajre777]

My car ran cooler (less heat in the engine bay) when I switched from Castrol synthetic to Mobil 1 synthetic and added a can of Restore. I'm sure the big hood vent that I have helps too.

 

[Gamble97]

What is restore? I just did an oil change on his car and I can't remember what oil I used, I'll find out and report back.

 

[DGajre777]

What is restore?

http://www.restoreusa.com/index.html

 

[2gmummy]

I have a problem kind of simular to this. A while back my thermostat went bad and the coolant in my overflow was boiling, the only smoke was some of the coolant getting on a hot pipe.
So i change the thermostat out and everything was fine when i noticed the temp gauge was at the 3/4 mark..i was just driving normally. I checked the thermo again, added coolant, fans come on, got a new cap, new headgasket, and new after market radiator.....i think it maybe the waterpump but idk how to check that also what is the running temp range my car should be?

Im pretty stumped and any help is really appreciated!