Ross
04-24-2007, 07:24 AM
OK, so I have had my new engine for about 2,500 miles. Of course, the reason I had to get it was because of extreme overheating which fried my old engine, so I am now very gun shy about any fluctuations in engine temperature.
Historically, when my MM has been up to operating temp, the needle points to about the 18 MPH mark on the speedometer. Roughly 45% up the temp scale. (It would be easier to describe if our temp gauges had numbers or marks.) No matter how far I would drive, and no matter what the outside temp was, the engine temp was rock steady at 45% up the gauge.
Since I have gotten my new engine in, I made one trip about a month ago which was almost 100 miles each way. On the way back, the temp gauge went up to about 65% up the gauge. Not enough to pull over and shut off the engine, but enough to get my attention and get me concerned. I talked to the dealer and they confirmed that when the new engine was put in, they used new coolant, a new fan motor, and a new thermostat. They checked the thermostat, however, and said that it wasn't opening completely, so they replaced it. NOTE: I kind of wondered if this was a correct diagnosis, since the slightly higher temp didn't show up on the first trip away from home, and didn't show up until I had driven at least 50 miles on the return trip. It seems like a thermostat that isn't opening all the way would have caused higher temps sooner than that.
Anyway, the higher temp showed up again a few days later, after not much driving, so I decided to "burp" the cooling system and let out any trapped air. Sure enough, there was air in the system, so I let it out and filled the system with coolant through the top filler hole. NOW, I'm hoping that the problem is fixed, but I'm keeping an eye on things anyway.
A few weeks later, I take a trip which is about 200 miles each way. On the way over, outside temp about 80 degrees, the gauge once again gets up to about 65%, and fluctuates slightly back down to almost normal, then back up again.
On the way home, no fluctuation, and the gauge shows a normal 45%, but the outside temp is only about 65 degrees.
I'm really concerned now. What is going to happen the first time I need to make a long trip when the outside temp is in the 90's? That will be soon down here.
The dealer says that I maybe need a radiator flush. Maybe, but if that's it, why doesn't the temp get higher sooner? It isn't getting higher than normal until after a long highway drive. Anything in the system (Thermostat, radiator, fan, etc.) should cause problems sooner than that, shouldn't they?
With a brand new engine, I really need to make sure that my cooling system is up to par.
Anyone got any suggestions?
Historically, when my MM has been up to operating temp, the needle points to about the 18 MPH mark on the speedometer. Roughly 45% up the temp scale. (It would be easier to describe if our temp gauges had numbers or marks.) No matter how far I would drive, and no matter what the outside temp was, the engine temp was rock steady at 45% up the gauge.
Since I have gotten my new engine in, I made one trip about a month ago which was almost 100 miles each way. On the way back, the temp gauge went up to about 65% up the gauge. Not enough to pull over and shut off the engine, but enough to get my attention and get me concerned. I talked to the dealer and they confirmed that when the new engine was put in, they used new coolant, a new fan motor, and a new thermostat. They checked the thermostat, however, and said that it wasn't opening completely, so they replaced it. NOTE: I kind of wondered if this was a correct diagnosis, since the slightly higher temp didn't show up on the first trip away from home, and didn't show up until I had driven at least 50 miles on the return trip. It seems like a thermostat that isn't opening all the way would have caused higher temps sooner than that.
Anyway, the higher temp showed up again a few days later, after not much driving, so I decided to "burp" the cooling system and let out any trapped air. Sure enough, there was air in the system, so I let it out and filled the system with coolant through the top filler hole. NOW, I'm hoping that the problem is fixed, but I'm keeping an eye on things anyway.
A few weeks later, I take a trip which is about 200 miles each way. On the way over, outside temp about 80 degrees, the gauge once again gets up to about 65%, and fluctuates slightly back down to almost normal, then back up again.
On the way home, no fluctuation, and the gauge shows a normal 45%, but the outside temp is only about 65 degrees.
I'm really concerned now. What is going to happen the first time I need to make a long trip when the outside temp is in the 90's? That will be soon down here.
The dealer says that I maybe need a radiator flush. Maybe, but if that's it, why doesn't the temp get higher sooner? It isn't getting higher than normal until after a long highway drive. Anything in the system (Thermostat, radiator, fan, etc.) should cause problems sooner than that, shouldn't they?
With a brand new engine, I really need to make sure that my cooling system is up to par.
Anyone got any suggestions?