Water Temperature Raises @ idle

[ChiGGz]

When I'm driving, boosting or not, my water temperature gauge reads below 190, however, when I idle, the temperature starts to raises to 220 and then my fan turns on, effectively lowering the temp, then fans turn off and water temp raises again.

Is this normal? Is 220 within safe specs?

 

[gridlyne]

Sounds normal to me. Of course its going to heat up while idling because your not moving any air over the engine thus the fan turning on to compensate for the lack of airflow over the engine. The same will happen in any car.

 

[Piranha451]

Try checking your coolant level and see if it is flowing properly. When you are driving the temp will lower as the coolant is moving but when you are at idle, the low level will not effectively cool the engine and hence the temp will rise.

 

[92redman]

For 1g, fans are set to turn on at about 217deg, so 220 is normal and well with in safe operating temperature. You should always keep an eye on the coolant level though, check in the radiator also, not just the reservoir. Under certain conditions such as a leaky system or bad radiator cap, you can have a full reservoir with a partially empty radiator.

 

[99gst_racer]

Redman, that's a typo, right? ^^^ Should say 217F......

When I'm driving, boosting or not, my water temperature gauge reads below 190

Thats because, while you are in motion, there is wind and cool air hitting the radiator and cooling it down.

however, when I idle, the temperature starts to raises to 220 and then my fan turns on, effectively lowering the temp, then fans turn off and water temp raises again.

Yup, thats because you are sitting still, and there is no airflow hitting the radiator to cool it. My spals only ever come on while the car sits - almost never when it's in motion.

Is this normal? Is 220 within safe specs?

Yes, and Yes.

 

[ChiGGz]

Thanks for all your help. So at what temperature should I be worried?

 

[99gst_racer]

Thanks for all your help. So at what temperature should I be worried?

Be worried @ 230F +.

I'm paranoid - I have my fans wired up so coolant temps never get one degree above 210F. Mine usually stays around 195F though.

 

[blackGSX2g]

Hmm, my cooling system is all stock and I never see more than 210. My fans kick in at 210 and turn off around 200 or so.

Basically as long as your stock coolant gauge isn't moving any hotter, your fine.

 

[KeithL322]

I'm having the OPPOSITE problem of this, let me explain.... ok, when its warm outside the car is perfectly fine, but the last few days have been cold (30-45F) and my car starts up and all that stuff just fine and i let it warm up to a little past the C on the temp gauge, but once i start driving it goes ALL the way down to the C and i have NO heat....If i stop somewhere and idle for a few seconds it will start to gain heat, but the second i start driving again all the heat is sapped any clue what i can do to LET my car keep some heat?(its not my fans running all the time, that i know for sure...I think its jsut that im taking in too much cold air/cold air running over the motor, but i have no clue what to do...) and my my car runs like crap unless its heated up. so it would be greatly appreciated if i get a good response thanks!

 

[92redman]

Have you checked the coolant level? This can happen if you have air pockets or low coolant level, once the cool air starts passing through the radiator it causes the coolant to contract and the level drops, if it was low to begin with or you have a bad vacuum valve on the radiator cap, the level could drop below the coolant sensor and cause poor heating.

Another possibility is a partially stuck open thermostat that is allowing your car to get warmed up when sitting but when you get moving and the coolant starts to cool it can't stop the flow to keep the coolant in the engine up to operating temperature.

 

[99gst_racer]

Yes, it sounds like your thermostat is stuck open. Go ahead an replace it and report back.

 

[KeithL322]

Ah ha! awesome, thats what my friend said it probably was ....I'll change it tommmorrow and rport back, thanks!

 

[steve]

For 1g, fans are set to turn on at about 217deg, so 220 is normal and well with in safe operating temperature.

I didn't see what you had given before, but on a 1G the thermoswitch in the radiator turns the radiator fan on at somewhere between 180-190F and off when the coolant is below 172F according to the FSM.

On a 2G the fans are ECU controlled and the turn on and off temps are based on the ECT, vehicle speed and AC switch.

Steve

 

[92redman]

^^Yes, I just found that out last night as I was purging air from my system. I had a circuit diagram that for some reason said that the switch closes at 217deg, but then I found out that it was more like 200deg when it really closed so I am not quite sure why the diagram said something different.

Thanks for pointing out the correction.

 

[KeithL322]

Yes, my thermostat was stuck open... Thanks for all the help guys!! sorry it took so long to report back, have been really busy lately