Running Temperature

Guest · Post Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:50 pm

My 325I is running a little hotter the last couple of days. It usually runs just slightly less than half way on the gauge. It is now running slightly over. Otherwise running like a dream. Any idea's what may be causing this. My guess is the stat may be a little suspect. I have heard they can give problems
Thanks

Joe.

Post Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:52 pm

The gauges can give problems, but the problems are that they normally jump around.

If it is running slightly hotter it could be a few things?

Is it happening in traffic? Or just in general?

Could be a faulty thermostat or viscous fan to start with?

Guest · Post Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:57 pm

It does both, the gauge jumps around sometimes. As I said since yesterday it has settled just above half way. It runs normally then for a time moves higher for a while then returns back. I have not been stuck in traffic.
Thanks

Joe.

Post Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:13 pm

The temp gauge on an E30 is not linear. The centre section only covers a few degrees, and any movement in the centre section would hardly be noticeable on a more conventional gauge.
Anywhere in the centre section is fine as long as it doesn't stray into the blue or red.

Post Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:18 pm

have you done any work on the cooling system recently? I think i'm right in saying that a boucing guage could br due to an air lock in the sytem

look very carefully for any external loss of coolant while your there as well or signs of the fluid level dropping/ed

Post Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:12 pm

OK, when I bought mine, a few months back, it had the wayward temp gauge problem. Some supposed 'expert' who 'used to work at the main dealers' claimed it was uneconomic to repair. So I didn't.

Although I ignored the gauge, I worried about it - and the engine smelled HOT.

So I changed the thermostat.

Then I changed the water pump - only last 60k miles apparently, so change it when the timing belt is changed - that way its very little extra work.

Then things got REALLY HOT, and I read about the newspaper test for the fan clutch - stick a rolled up newspaper in it - if it doesn't shred it, the clutch is gone (but it LOOKS OK , it still goes round!) Try a real test - stick your hand in! Didn't feel a thing, clutch totally gone.

So asked a local specialist company to check things over - they charged me 90 minutes labour to check out a starting problem, replace the fan clutch (ah but that's expensive - try Euro car parts?) and FIX THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE (simply a poor earth connection).

Great!

Except they reported a sheared manifold stud, exhaust man bent out of shape, and apparently to get at the sheared rear stud on a six cylinder the head often has to come off (300 quid to you, mate, or presumably 700 at the main dealer judging by their labour rates). I can see why when you look at how inaccessible it is.

SO IT STILL SMELLS HOT AND NOW I KNOW WHY

So was the exhaust man problem caused by me ignoring serious overheating due to not fixing the temp gauge and 'saving' a few quid?

Oh well, could have been a cracked head/block or sonething.

Anyway, probably happened before I got the car - and it probably wouldn't have stopped me buying it.