temp creeps up when stopped
08-25-2010, 05:58 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
temp creeps up when stopped
I noticed on my car the temp gauge creeps up when I am stopped at a light or in traffic. It gets to just below the red area, but once I start moving, it cools down.
My expansion tank is very yellowed so I'm not sure exactly how much coolant is in there. Should I add more to be safe? Maybe buy a cooler thermostat?
Not sure what temp thermo the car has now.
My expansion tank is very yellowed so I'm not sure exactly how much coolant is in there. Should I add more to be safe? Maybe buy a cooler thermostat?
Not sure what temp thermo the car has now.
08-25-2010, 06:12 PM
#2
Are you fans kicking on at all. I have noticed these cars will creep up slowly in heat at a stop but then the fans should kick on and pull the heat out. I would check to make sure the fans are turning on. Also you can try to turn the A/C on which forces the fans to run.
08-25-2010, 06:41 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
The fans do come on, I hear them and the car does eventually cool back down, but its just something I've noticed.
Should I add more coolant in the expansion tank?
Should I add more coolant in the expansion tank?
08-25-2010, 06:50 PM
#6
Realize that these cars have an actual temperature GAUGE and not just a temperature INDICATOR.
In other words, it's normal to see the gauge cycle up and down as you sit in traffic. (Most modern cars, the temp gauge never moves, that's because it's an "indicator" and not a true "gauge.")
"Normal" for every car seems to be a little different. My car never gets higher than the top white line (below the red) - once it hits that point, the fans kick on, and the temp comes back down. Before I cleaned all my grounds several months ago chasing a funky voltage issue (which turned out to be a missing alternator cooling duct), the needle would go a little higher than the top white line - maybe halfway between the top white line and the red. But then the needle would also fluctuate depending on voltage load (I could make it move based on headlights, blower motor, etc.)
Is it actually getting into the red? If not, you might be ok. Add some coolant to the bottle to be safe (any extra will just drain out the overflow tube when the car heats up a bit) and it might also be a good idea to clean the ground points. I'd also follow the procedure on Clark's Garage to verify proper operation of the gauge itself.
In other words, it's normal to see the gauge cycle up and down as you sit in traffic. (Most modern cars, the temp gauge never moves, that's because it's an "indicator" and not a true "gauge.")
"Normal" for every car seems to be a little different. My car never gets higher than the top white line (below the red) - once it hits that point, the fans kick on, and the temp comes back down. Before I cleaned all my grounds several months ago chasing a funky voltage issue (which turned out to be a missing alternator cooling duct), the needle would go a little higher than the top white line - maybe halfway between the top white line and the red. But then the needle would also fluctuate depending on voltage load (I could make it move based on headlights, blower motor, etc.)
Is it actually getting into the red? If not, you might be ok. Add some coolant to the bottle to be safe (any extra will just drain out the overflow tube when the car heats up a bit) and it might also be a good idea to clean the ground points. I'd also follow the procedure on Clark's Garage to verify proper operation of the gauge itself.
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08-25-2010, 06:59 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
I would add fluid till between the MIN and MAX marks on the expansion tank, then bleed the air out at the head vent with the engine COLD, then refill till between the marks again. Might also check the radiator for debris between the fins.
