question

[wayneE30]

whats the normal running temp for a 316 carb or all e30's

[Brianmoooore]

Whatever it says on the thermostat, or anywhere in the middle section of the temp gauge.

[dazleeds]

:yeahthat:

[wayneE30]

so there is no average then just what ever the gauge reads

[dazleeds]

in my experience e30s either run at qtr way up the gauge
or bang on half had olenty and they all been qtr or half way

hth Daz leeds

[wayneE30]

just wondering cause mine runs a 3 qtrs

[dazleeds]

that dnt sound good mate i would have a damn good look at everything temp related and renew as required

does it always run that high? or just sat in traffic?? Daz

ps Brianmoooore im sure will have some better advice if you say exactly whats happening and how the cars acting etc

[Brianmoooore]

Someone, somewhere once took the trouble to calibrate an E30 temperature gauge, and posted the results on the net.
The scale is far from linear, and the centre section only covered a few degrees.
As long as it moves out of the blue and stays out of the red then the engine temp is fine.
If it starts to creep up when the car is stationary in traffic, then you may have a viscous fan coupling failing, and if it creeps up when the car is driven hard, then the radiator may need cleaning or replacing. (Radiators should be considered a service item - only every 100,000 miles or so, but a service item nevertheless.)
If it starts to fall when stationary in traffic, then you probably have a broken thermostat.

[rowemeister]

Mine and other M20 owners I know have all been 1/2 way when driving! even when driven hard for long periods. They do creep towards 3/4 in traffic when its has hot as it is now. As soon as you start to drive for a minute or two it drops back to 1/2.