Temperature gauge

[ross_jsy]

So after returning from a semi disastrous trip to France in the new turd (and turd being the operative term, I'll update my thread in the members section tomorrow), I noticed the temperature was getting a bit hot at times. My sport never budged from the halfway point, no matter what hell I gave it, however the temperature will rise up to the mark to the right of the centre one after sustained driving. Is this something I should be worried about?

By sustained driving, I was cruising at 90 in 30 degree heat, however crawling in traffic/idling it was fine or would wander a tiny bit.

The previous owner used Evans Waterless coolant which I am not sure is helping matters as reading on the net, it seems people experience a rise in operating temps.

So is this normal?

[Brianmoooore]

While moving at any speed, the gauge should sit at exactly what is stamped on the thermostat, rising a little when idling or not moving, to the point where the viscous fan coupling locks up.
If the needle is moving upwards while driving, the cooling is inadequate for some reason, which is most likely to be a partly blocked or scaled up radiator. They are long term service items.

[ross_jsy]

Figured it would be the rad, but wanted to check as it's been a long time since I've been behind the wheel of an e30. After finding a hole in the rad on Thursday I swapped the rad over to my one I used on the m50 conversion. It's been sat around the garage for about 5 years and still had a bit of coolant in it so probably going to be the cause

[Brianmoooore]

It's not the only possibility, of course. Could be a water pup with a plastic vane or two gone missing, or even a 'stat with the bridge piece broken, and not opening properly.

[ross_jsy]

Cheers Brian. The PO claims the water pump was changed, but based on the rest of the bodged I've found so far I doubt that. Rad will be my first stop as it's been sat in the garage for ages