toddk911

Well, I have moved to the MD/VA area and thecold air is working on the car nicely.

However, once I am driving and that 35-40 degree air is moving over the IC/Rad the engine temp drops back to cold. At idle it comes up to operating temp, but as soon as some driving it drops below.

What should I do?

A. I am running 20w-50 which I will drop on the next change.

B. I am running moslty water and some water wetter in the rad now and will flush and drain and add anti freeze also.





Would the above be causing the temps to run low???

EJ

Sounds like your thermostat isn't working. Something you might not have noticed in Orlando.

PorscheDude1

May want to check the temp rating for your fan switch?

toddk911

The thermostat and fan switches are both stock settings.

However, the thermostat might be sticking open. But again, it does come to temp fine during idle when parked.

fortysixandtwo

Replace both of the thermostats when you do the fluid change. They should be setting the minimum temperature the engine runs at regardless of air temperature.

Also you'll want get this done soon, having the block or head crack from the water freezing would be a bad thing.

2bridges

GET THAT WATER OUT OF THERE!!!!!!! antifreeze immediately. You will kick yourself forever if it freezes. wrong time of the year to gamble

toddk911

Ok, will do the flush and changes asap and new thermostats.

Been spending 12 years trying to keep the temps down from all the heat, so this is a new outlook.

PorscheDude1

I hear ya. I just moved to MD from Ft. Lauderdale 5 years ago. It took me (not the car) lots of adjusting.

vt951

I have the same exact temperature problems with my 951 in Cincinnati. I replaced the thermostat last year, and it didn't improve. When I posted a thread about this issue, some replies stated that it was normal behavior for winter driving in a 951: link to thread. I'm not sure I believe that, though. I basically just don't push it too hard in the winter until I get it warm enough that the oil pressure drops to around 3 bar at idle. It's pretty much impossible to keep it at normal operating temp on the highway in winter, so I just keep it on back roads where I can pull over and let it warm up once in a while.

Scootin159

+1 on the thermostat being stuck open. Had that happen on my miata last year, and the same symptoms.

EdC

You shouldn't be running with just water no matter where you live. There is no corroison protection nor proper lubriction for the water pump and thermostat. No wonfder it is sticking. Run the recommended coolant.

Cra$h

I'm pretty sure the water wetter does that.

toddk911

Nice!

What part of MD are you in?

toddk911

I will change the thermostats when I do the coolant flush/change just to be safe.

But as VT said, it just seems logical that if you are driving at 40-50mph in 30-40 degree temps; that is REAL cold air/wind chill (surface temps) across the rad, IC, oil cooler, etc. etc. Especially since I have the fog lights removed for even more air flow into the engine bay and directly to the oil cooler.

But, there are plenty of other cars that run in the cold cliimates that maintain normal operating temps in the winter.

hosrom_951

If you installed a lower thermo fan switch and thermostat, since you were in FL right? then moved to a colder climate, the temps will obviously drop.

Mine sits between the first two marks while driving (less than 80C), but my oil temp reached 185F-ish normally and have no problems there (but i just installed a new pump, t-stat few weeks back and new radiator a couple of months back).

Once summer kicks in, i hope to have everything under control