Technical Is my Thermostat on the way out

[brooking147]

In this cold weather I have noticed that the coolant temperature does not always sit at the half-way mark on the dial. The car is a 14 MultiAir Turbo. What do people normally see on their Temp dial - does it go up to half way and stick there or like mine does it sometimes slowly oscillate between halfway and the graduation below that?

I have had other cars of a similar age that have shown more pronounced temperature variation but have always been much better (stuck on half way) after a thermostat change.

What do you think? Is this normal to have dial between half way and the next graduation down?

 

[bugsymike]

In this cold weather I have noticed that the coolant temperature does not always sit at the half-way mark on the dial. The car is a 14 MultiAir Turbo. What do people normally see on their Temp dial - does it go up to half way and stick there or like mine does it sometimes slowly oscillate between halfway and the graduation below that?

I have had other cars of a similar age that have shown more pronounced temperature variation but have always been much better (stuck on half way) after a thermostat change.

What do you think? Is this normal to have dial between half way and the next graduation down?

This time of the year it may be it takes longer for the thermostat to open at it's correct temp. (roughly 90 degrees in centre of gauge.).
Fluctuating does indicate a possible sticking /fault thermostat or temp sensor.
This is general terms, I don't own a Multiair.

 

[Blackie27]

I had issues with my thermostat on my Panda at the end of last year. It was taking ages for the temp needle to reach the 1/4 setting on the gauge, then when it started to get warm in the car the needle would drop to zero but still be warm in the car.
I changed the thermostat and now within driving a mile, the needle is at halfway and is stable throughout the journey. I would recommend changing the stat before any heat damage is done to the engine and the head gasket blows.

 

[fiatmultiair]

I have the same, Multiair 1.4 turbo, thermostat does not come to halfway as it should, sometimes it takes a while to reach 90 degrees in summer, if it does reach 90 degrees it's basically hot around the engine and the fan starts spinning to cool the engine down, I think changing the thermostat will resolve the issue, but I just could not bring myself to care enough, I'm tired of putting in money into these cars.

 

[bugsymike]

I have the same, Multiair 1.4 turbo, thermostat does not come to halfway as it should, sometimes it takes a while to reach 90 degrees in summer, if it does reach 90 degrees it's basically hot around the engine and the fan starts spinning to cool the engine down, I think changing the thermostat will resolve the issue, but I just could not bring myself to care enough, I'm tired of putting in money into these cars.

It can feel like that at times.
However if engine quickly reaches it's correct operating temperature the mechanical parts expand to normal and work quietly and efficiently which also helps fuel economy and reduces the contaminates caused by condensation in the engine oil etc. So many reasons to have engine temp correct.

 

[fiatmultiair]

the thermostat should cost to 100 bucks' max so it's not a huge problem.

 

[brooking147]

As an update. I plugged in an ODB reader with live view of the coolant temperature. For most of a two hour drive on the motorway in about 5 degrees ambient outside, the coolant was showing between 65 degrees and 70 degrees Celsius. When at 70 degrees the temp guage was at half-way point and when at 65 it was one section lower.

Not sure if a 70 degree running temp is a bit low? What do others think?

 

[bugsymike]

As an update. I plugged in an ODB reader with live view of the coolant temperature. For most of a two hour drive on the motorway in about 5 degrees ambient outside, the coolant was showing between 65 degrees and 70 degrees Celsius. When at 70 degrees the temp guage was at half-way point and when at 65 it was one section lower.

Not sure if a 70 degree running temp is a bit low? What do others think?

According to my 2012 AutoData Manual thermostat opens @ 88 + or - 2 degrees Centigrade which take as centre of temp gauge generally on most vehicles, including a couple I have fitted thermostats to recently.

 

[brooking147]

According to my 2012 AutoData Manual thermostat opens @ 88 + or - 2 degrees Centigrade which take as centre of temp gauge generally on most vehicles, including a couple I have fitted thermostats to recently.

Thanks, so I guess the 70 deg max I am getting indicates that the thermostat is either opening a bit early, or letting through a bit. I will check with the reader when stationary and warming up. I have had other cars where a stat change resulted in the needle getting up to half way and sticking there, as opposed to current behaviour where it is more available once warmed up and according to driving conditions. I just wondered if the MA turbo had different characteristics as never owned a Turbo variant before. Is there extra cooling for the turbo?

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks, so I guess the 70 deg max I am getting indicates that the thermostat is either opening a bit early, or letting through a bit. I will check with the reader when stationary and warming up. I have had other cars where a stat change resulted in the needle getting up to half way and sticking there, as opposed to current behaviour where it is more available once warmed up and according to driving conditions. I just wondered if the MA turbo had different characteristics as never owned a Turbo variant before. Is there extra cooling for the turbo?

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks, so I guess the 70 deg max I am getting indicates that the thermostat is either opening a bit early, or letting through a bit. I will check with the reader when stationary and warming up. I have had other cars where a stat change resulted in the needle getting up to half way and sticking there, as opposed to current behaviour where it is more available once warmed up and according to driving conditions. I just wondered if the MA turbo had different characteristics as never owned a Turbo variant before. Is there extra cooling for the turbo?

Not sure about your model but generally if thermostat working correctly it should bring temp to around 90 Degrees C and keep it there not fluctuate.