engine running too cool?

[hooverphonique]

Right.. on most cars i've observed that the coolant temp gauge stays at the same temp after the engine's warm.. this does not seem to be the case with my 19 16V.. when parked and idle, temp will rise, fan will come on, temp will fall again and so on.. the temp change is quite visible on the gauge.. also, during winter, if i turn off the heater and fan, the gauge will rise to what it is at during driving in summer, with the heater and fan on, the gauge will sit a bit lower..

does this sound like the stat not closing properly to you lot?

thanks...

nb. a completely unrelated question: my wipe stalk won't stay in the rear-wipe-on position, is it supposed to be like that? (don't remember how it behaved in the clio)

[The T.I.B.]

1st question: sounds normal to me?

2nd question: stalk is normal, none stay on. gotta keep flicking it with your little finger!

[Chris H]

only the clio stalk etc stays on for the rear wiper.

Most other cars don't have big swing needles some will read halfway at 70 and still bbe int eh same place at 95 degrees.

In the hottest summer temps (over 30 degrees c) with the heater set to hot and the heater fan on the cooling fan will not cut in on any of my 16V's.

At speed 1 it will maintain the temp at the first line for a good 20 mins or so.

On the red car cos theres no vent the thing runs a lot cooler on the move, engine bay flow is better.

[hooverphonique]

hmm... ok.. so mine should be fine then, i guess.. the needle sits a bit over the second line in summer on the move.. cooling fan rarely comes on, when the car is moving.. when not moving, the needle will go to a little under half-max and then the fan kicks in...

what's "speed 1" then?

so the vent actually draws cool air out of the bay, decreasing the cooling effect somewhat?

[Chris H]

the interior heater fan speed 1.

vent serves to ram air intop the engine bay at speed, increasing pressure thus decreasing cooling efficiency.

[hooverphonique]

right.. increased pressure inhibits flow, of course... so i guess the vent doesn't really serve any other purpose than looks!? afaik, some of the french 16V's had the regular bonnet without vent..

[Laine_16v]

Yeah its for look only really.

[JB]

I like that the gauge is so interactive, gives you more of an idea whats going on. MY dad's focus just goes rapidly to the centre of the dial and then never ever moves...point?

the pug is very interactive too, which again i like...along with the windscreen squirters.