R33 Operating Temp

[l0WRB]

need to pick someone's brain

car is r33 gtst

52mm isc alloy radiator

link ecu

basically the car runs so cold on my stock gauge im not sure its even up 2 running temp? and might explain my horrible fuel economy?perhaps in cold start alot?

i know its winter and all.. but during the day time it will get about 3mm above the cold on gauge 22 degree day... and at night it barely moves off the cold gauge lol 8 degrees last nite..

what could i do 2 try and bring it up more?

thanx

[TUF250]

thermostat maybe? I have heard those factory gauges are not the most reliable or your coolant temp sensor could be giving funny readings. Easy to check, CAREFULLY open the radiator once warmed up and use a thermometer (digital if possible) to test water temp

[Spurdo]

which generation link ecu are you running? im running the older G1 and i have a hand controller, it has a temperature readout function

[l0WRB]

yeah im running the g1 also but i dont have a hand controller!

[pipster11]

you cant really judge the temp from the stock gauge

i've got an ecutalk display and it reads the stock sensors

my gauge will start moving off the bottom at about 60° and the middle is about 80° but 80° to 90° it doesn't really move

if you want to know what temp its running you could get an aftermarket gauge and put the sender in the return pipe of the radiator (supercheap sell adaptors that you cut the radiator hose in half and put in the middle)

or go to jaycar and get an lcd temp display kit (prob have to assemble it yourself but its easy) and leave it in your car permanently

[KiwiRS4T]

Put the stock radiator back!

But seriously take your thermostat out and test it in a jug adding hot water till it opens - or since you have gone to the trouble of pulling it out just put a new one in anyway. You should get a rough idea of how hot your motor is by the output of the heater. If there is nothing wrong with your thermostat try blanking off two thirds of your radiator for the winter.

[TiTAN]

replace the thermostat, it shouldnt matter what temp it is outside its job is to keep the motor around 80c and will only flow enough coolant out to keep it there. once they get old they can get stuck open and it takes ages to get the car up to temp wasting fuel and not allowing it to run at the correct temp it was designed for if you have a good radiator fitted.

[lachlanw]

you cant really judge the temp from the stock gauge

i've got an ecutalk display and it reads the stock sensors

my gauge will start moving off the bottom at about 60° and the middle is about 80° but 80° to 90° it doesn't really move

if you want to know what temp its running you could get an aftermarket gauge and put the sender in the return hose of the radiator (supercheap sell adaptors that you cut the radiator hose in half and put in the middle)

or go to jaycar and get an lcd temp display kit (prob have to assemble it yourself but its easy) and leave it in your car permanently

NO. put it in the top hose . from the thermo stat to the top radiator tank

it should run about 82 degrees . and idealy should be about half way up the gauge . does your heater go hot or only half arse . when its got as warm as you think its goin to get gout andt feel the top hose . it should be too hot to keep your hand on .

the gauge and the ecy have their own temperature senders .

there is talk about some ecus having different temperature sensors installed for the ecu to read . check if your two look stock

or just buy a new thermo stat . leave the alloy radiator in it . thremo stat most likely isnt doin its job

[paulr33]

before going into solution mode, check the actual water temp with a digital thermometer

it might be perfectly ok and you are changing things quicker than underwear to possibly fix something that isnt broken

[JonnoHR31]

NO. put it in the top hose

top hose is the return hose champ

[l0WRB]

might get it tested 2morrow and let u all know how i go

[pipster11]

top hose is the return hose champ

Bingo

[TiTAN]

the pump pulls from the radiator bottom hose and pumps out the top of the engine, top is the out not the return.

[R31Nismoid]

Yep don't go off the stock gauge, there is no way to tell.

FYI i run between 69 & 73 degrees with a Race Radiators item on a typical day. You might need to just alter the cold start mapping and so on

[pipster11]

sorry, i meant return to the rad

i also meant to add that i thought the thermostat was at fault here

whip it out and boil the kettle, then pour the boiling water on the thermostat, it should open up

if not, get a new one - and don't get a low temp one, you just don't need it

[Rekin]

Yep don't go off the stock gauge, there is no way to tell.

FYI i run between 69 & 73 degrees with a Race Radiators item on a typical day. You might need to just alter the cold start mapping and so on

69 to 73?? That sounds quite cold, thought the ideal operating temperature is around 80degrees?

[R31Nismoid]

Long as cold start is adjusted and so on, I don't have any economy issues to speak of

I get 400-450km to a tank (55l) around town or around 550km cruising @ 100

So it's clearly not a problem, and makes the same power as everyone else!

[JonnoHR31]

69 to 73?? That sounds quite cold, thought the ideal operating temperature is around 80degrees?

its a 31 thing, myne does the same. will not budge from 69 at night time. got up to a boiling 82 out on the track

[R31Nismoid]

Maybe, i also have a thick intercooler & a small A/C condenser all infront of the rad as well, and the front bar really doesnt let much air in given the intake is less than half the size of the rad.

It'd be interesting to have someone look properly into it and workout why