It was a 100 degree day today. I'm rollin on the highway and it's hot, but bearable as long as I keep moving and the air keeps flowin through my windows. I look up ahead and there's a traffic jam because of a wreck. No problemo, it'll be short. I sit there, and I'm starting to sweat, bad... and we've only been sitting for about 5 minutes. Then, I glance at the temp gauge and I freak out. Normally, the gauge is a few millimeters below the 9 o clock position. it was now a few millimeters above the 9 o clock position and moving up quite quickly. I start to panic, I don't want it to go up any higher and I don't want it to damage anything. But finally I clear the wreck scene and I start to accelerate back to 70mph. Car slowly goes back to normal. I park at my house after getting off the highway, needle's on it's way back up again.


Motor's in good condition and aside from an intake, it's stock. It's my daily driver, but this is the first time I've driven it in 100+ degree temps. Is this normal? If it is, what in the world can I do about it? I'd like to keep this as my daily driver, but if I can't drive it around at 100+ degree weather, that rules out a lot of days here in OK.

Input please. Thank you.

 

um... how come you dont got a watertemp gauge yet???
also, you already did the fan mod right which keeps fans on at will???

 

Temp gauge is on my list of stuff to get right after my downpipe. I already did the fan mod.

 

Sounds like you may be a little low on coolant and getting a little air pocket, perhaps.

I have noticed that my temp gauge stays absolutely in the same place once the car is fully warmed up, and that is about 2 needle marks from the mid-range position. It doesn't go up or down from there. I have noticed this on my Volvo, also as well as my Mazda pickup. Now my Suburban, on the other hand, will run about 190 to 220 depending on the engine load. It's temp gauge definitely shows fluctuation.

But back to the FD. The only time I have ever seen mine move beyond its "normal" position is when it was a little low on coolant. Doesn't take much, sometimes it is just a cup or so, less than a pint.

 

I noticed a big drop in temp between the fan mod and downpipe. Both are a must!

 

radiator helps too

check the coolant make sure its where it should be. add a little just in case. i'm guessing you have not noticed any leaks or drops in your driveway. Might be time for some new coolant also. I like to change mine on my cars every 1-2 years.

i've driven many times in 90-100+ degree heat in NY stop and go traffic w/o the gauge budging. Stays in the 90-99 degree range on the PFC and doesn't budge on stock. Have not seen it higher.

Good luck.

 

Mine used to do a little something like that in the texas spring heat. It would stay a little below midway and if I got stuck in traffic it would start to creep up. I had Gotham Racing install a Miata ThermoSensor(correct term?). All problems have since been solved. The cars basiccaly put away for the summer but on occasion when I do take it out it seems to do fine.

P.S. Where do you live in Norman I've got some buddies going up there. I plan on visiting soon maybe we can meet up when I drive up.

 

Thermoswitch I believe. There are a couple of Thermosensor's on the car. Like the intake thermosensor malfunction that causes the car to run rich.

 

Well I just changed out all the coolant about 3 weeks ago. Added Redline water wetter while I was at it. I checked the coolant a few hours after I parked it and it probably lost 1/2 cup of coolant. I hope that was it. I've read somewhere before that people have experienced that when sitting in traffic in the heat.

Crazysuprakid: I live right by OU, pm me when you know when you're coming up.

 

Yes thermoswitch is the correct word.

I'll drop ya a PM when i'm headed up there. It'll probably be a weekend in october.