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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: ///M3Mike on July 21, 2010, 03:31:44 PM

Title: Normal coolant temp?
Post by: ///M3Mike on July 21, 2010, 03:31:44 PM

I thought I was having a slight overheating issue after a radiator replacement (at which time I installed a Volvo fan wired to the aux fan circuit) that seemed to take forever to bleed correctly.  It seems to be bled adequately now, but my coolant gauge still reads a little hot.  I dropped a thermometer in the expansion tank when it was up to operating temp and it read 199F spiking at 203F.  Is that normal, or would that be high for an M42?

I have reason to suspect my cluster/SI board is moody, so I'm trying to rule out what I can.

Thanks!!

Title: Normal coolant temp?
Post by: RED IS 91 on July 21, 2010, 06:06:08 PM

199F is 93C and 203F is 95C ............. What do you have for a thermostat in your car ? Most are 88C but they do make a 92C for our motor ..........
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=11-53-7-511-083-M9&catalog_description=Thermostat%2C%2092%20Degree%2C%20318i%2Fis%2FiC%20M42%20Engine%20%281991%29

If you have a 92 I would say that you are in range but if you think that's high then install a 88C.
Good luck

Title: Normal coolant temp?
Post by: ///M3Mike on July 22, 2010, 09:26:32 AM

Quote from: RED IS 91;94840

199F is 93C and 203F is 95C ............. What do you have for a thermostat in your car ? Most are 88C but they do make a 92C for our motor ..........
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=11-53-7-511-083-M9&catalog_description=Thermostat%2C%2092%20Degree%2C%20318i%2Fis%2FiC%20M42%20Engine%20%281991%29

If you have a 92 I would say that you are in range but if you think that's high then install a 88C.
Good luck

I put in a 92 when I did my e-fan.  I was really looking more for whether or not my gauge in the cluster is reading too high because it used to read dead in the middle of the gauge and now it's about halfway between the half and 3/4 mark.

Title: Normal coolant temp?
Post by: RED IS 91 on July 22, 2010, 10:36:19 AM

Quote from: ///M3Mike;94870

I put in a 92 when I did my e-fan.  I was really looking more for whether or not my gauge in the cluster is reading too high because it used to read dead in the middle of the gauge and now it's about halfway between the half and 3/4 mark.

I have an 88* wahler in my car and the gauge is dead center and a line above if I have the AC on.