Cooling System Issues, Themostat

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11-30-2010, 06:29 PM
NissanFairladyZ32

Cooling System Issues, Themostat

First off i have an all aluminum radiatior,

My gauge will sit at about 1/4 will never get to the middle, im aftraid im not getting into closed loop and the car is never warming up as it should

is this normal ? or do all miata NB 1999+ do this ?

I had a 192 degreee themostat in the car, i changed to 180 and it seems to be doing the same thing, what themostat do you prefer ?

Im getting 160-180 degree heat out my vents, is this normal or is this not hot enough ?

thanks james, pic attached of gauge
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...01130-1813.jpg
12-01-2010, 12:54 AM
Matt V

That might be normal for an aluminum radiator. My car sits below half quite a bit and I have a factory temp thermostat with my factory plastic radiator.

Also, I've noticed the gauge sits a little lower now that it's colder outside.
12-01-2010, 02:44 PM
SirHustlerEsq

Replace your thermostat after using a laser thermometer on the water neck to confirm the temp.
10-03-2011, 11:33 PM
NissanFairladyZ32

Update on this:

I've changed the thermostat with an orileys one, i have changed the coolant temp sensor, i have flushed the radiator, i have burped the system, i have installed a new radiator cap. i have 50/50 coolant mix

And my temp gauge still seems so sit low, i can run the car for 15-20 mins and its at the 1/4 mark, if i let the car idle after driving it 20 min and put the heat on full and on defrost, Then the gauge slowly climes to the middle position.

Does this mean there is some air still in the system ? or does this mean something is wrong with my gauge ?
10-04-2011, 07:54 AM
Rob®

1) You need to know what temp your car is actually running at to see if you even have a problem
1a) Get a real gauge (temp or perm) so you know what the actual coolant temp is
1b) Use a thermometer to get the actual coolant temp
2) Factory gauges have a massive dead spot by design. Maybe you got lucky and yours reads to the much lower end of the dead spot
3) Maybe somebody removed the needle for whatever reason and put it back on in such a way that it reads lower than usual
10-04-2011, 08:27 AM
Piff

Do your fans ever come on when you're just idling? At least you might infer that it's reaching temp.

Regards.
10-04-2011, 08:35 AM
MiataProtege

My two cents:

My car is a '99. My temperature gauge sits at where yours is only until I drive for a little while, then it goes up into the half region. I would guess something isn't right, though I know nothing about cars. I'm sure it's nothing serious though! Good luck figuring it out.

You should feel very lucky/happy to have cruise control by the way! I would love to have it.
10-04-2011, 09:48 AM
NissanFairladyZ32

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiataProtege

My two cents:

My car is a '99. My temperature gauge sits at where yours is only until I drive for a little while, then it goes up into the half region. I would guess something isn't right, though I know nothing about cars. I'm sure it's nothing serious though! Good luck figuring it out.

You should feel very lucky/happy to have cruise control by the way! I would love to have it.

I do have a bigger all aluminum radiator though.

Hopefully that's the reason it takes so long to get up to temp
10-04-2011, 10:08 AM
NissanFairladyZ32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piff

Do your fans ever come on when you're just idling? At least you might infer that it's reaching temp.

Regards.

Actually they dont, but when the AC is on both fans kick on

i thought one was for the AC and the other one was always suppose to run ?
10-04-2011, 10:18 AM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by NissanFairladyZ32

I had a 192 degreee themostat in the car, i changed to 180 and it seems to be doing the same thing, what themostat do you prefer ?

192 is the factory recomened temp. Is that what you are currently running??

http://www.harrisonindustrial.com/im...tats%20003.jpg
OEM Thermostat.
10-04-2011, 10:25 AM
MiataProtege

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

192 is the factory recomened temp. Is that what you are currently running??

http://www.harrisonindustrial.com/im...tats%20003.jpg
OEM Thermostat.

If you have that just laying around on a table in your home... that's odd. If you pulled it off google images then goodjob.
10-04-2011, 10:25 AM
trickyrix

Also be aware that the factory temp "gauge" is basically an idiot light. Warm the car up and check the temp with an infrared thermometer.
10-04-2011, 10:31 AM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiataProtege

If you have that just laying around on a table in your home... that's odd. If you pulled it off google images then goodjob.

Actually I do have one in Stock at home. But this photo is one I had in my Picasa web album.
10-04-2011, 10:40 AM
MiataProtege

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

Also be aware that the factory temp "gauge" is basically an idiot light. Warm the car up and check the temp with an infrared thermometer.

No sir, let me describe to you "Idiot Light". Idiot light is when someone (me) is checking the temperature over and over as they are flushing the coolant in their car making sure it never goes up too high... only to realize that the temperature gauge they are looking at.... is actually the oil gauge and that the temperature gauge is to the right, not in the middle. I felt like such a moron afterward... I had to go buy myself a pizza and watch Judge Dred.
10-04-2011, 10:44 AM
OZMDD

Hi! I'd like to post on this thread and contribute abolutely nothing of value, but talk about myself instead. Thanks!
10-04-2011, 10:47 AM
Rob®

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

Also be aware that the factory temp "gauge" is basically an idiot light. Warm the car up and check the temp with an infrared thermometer.

Repost. :confused:

Here, pic of the deadspot on an NA - the NB is similar, with some people saying it's actually worse (I personally do not know either way on an NB):
http://www.guapozx.com/users/dogpile.../deadspot1.JPG
99° | 120° | 139° | 159° | 174° | 200° | 220° | 240° | 260° | 270°
(photo credit to whomever took the actual photo years ago)

Notice from ~159° to ~220° is what most people consider "normal" needle position. That goes from not even open thermostat temp to a bit hot...for roughly the same needle position. Some will even claim the 240° position above is their "normal summer" gauge position.
10-04-2011, 10:51 AM
MiataProtege

I have a mild God-complex and I'm a renown conversationalist. The personality attracts trolls! Though truthfully my goal in life is to produce humor, even if at my own expense.
10-04-2011, 10:51 AM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob®

Repost.

Oh crap no one else post!!!

It looks like Rob®'s got this one! :clap:
10-04-2011, 10:54 AM
MiataProtege

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Oh crap no one else post!!!

It looks like Rob®'s got this one! :clap:

Can you explain the Titus and rain thing? Something about don't park next to him in the rain... I keep hearing about it.
10-04-2011, 11:07 AM
Rob®

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Oh crap no one else post!!!

It looks like Rob®'s got this one! :clap:

2nd

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