Temp gauge

[stagerme]

Is it normal that the temp gauge reads slightly higher at motorway speeds then goes back to the middle at slower speeds? My gauge is ways around straight up in the middle but seems to move to about two thirds at constant high speed 70-80ish also I seem to lose a small amount of water,be interested if others experience the same. Cheers Cliff

[V Mad]

Mine stays in the same place Cliff, dead centre. The only time it goes up slightly is after switching the engine off. Then as soon as I restart it goes straight back.

[stagerme]

Mine stays in the same place Cliff, dead centre. The only time it goes up slightly is after switching the engine off. Then as soon as I restart it goes straight back.

I'm sure mine used stay in the middle ,now stag paranoia is setting in!!!

[martin]

Fast cruising will put the temp up, if your gauge is reasonably accurate, two thirds is nothing to worry about, normally mine, with a capilliary gauge, runs at 90c, but fast cruising puts it up to 95c, it's not an issue, slight Stag paranoia creeping in there Martin.

[ChasR]

Some may say mine runs a little hot! With an 82 degree thermostat of the Calorstat brand my gauge stays in the dead ahead position. Now and again it will creep slightly (and I mean slightly) under the middle or slightly over. In traffic (sitting for more than 10 minutes with the engine idling) it will go towards 2/3s but it never goes beyond that, soon coming down once the car starts to move . If the electric fan is on, the gauge in town never goes beyond halfway (IIRC it may be slightly lower than the middle).

Hmmm, time to fit the Davis Craig EWP and fan controller... It comes with its own temp gauge to boot!

[whitev8stag]

I'm constantly worried about temp!

at 60mph, my temp displays just below half

at below 50 its still slightly blow half

then in town its at half,

not really been in much traffic yet to see how high it goes,

the needle it at 2/3rds when starting hot but it comes down...

[flying farmer]

I had noticed this too and fitted a TR6 front spoiler which solved the problem.

If you look at the LD part website he does a secret spoiler which is basically a bit of clear plastic that fits inside the bumper to divert airflow through the rad at speed. I have bought one for the project Stag but I won't be able to tell you if it works for a while yet, but parking and high kerbs will not be a problem for SWMBO unlike the TR item!

Neil

[elvimto]

Since owning my car a Mk 1 I decided to run a regular sender unit gauge from the right hand head then added a capillary from the left hand head and just to see what I am getting I installed a digital gauge reading from the return to the radiator (I machined a hose connector at work and it has four tapped holes one is used to bleed the system one for a sensor and two spare) both gauges form the heads read about the middle but the digital reads 185 or 85c and will go to 197 or 90c sitting at a stop light the other gauges will follow it but they are only indicators now. i am sure all cars are a bit different but if you are worried i would fit a digital in the return hose to the radiator and that will give you a real temp number.

cheers Stuart

[wilf]

My car also runs hotter on the Motorway at constant high speeds, and I know others do too, seems to be quite normal, and can be improved by airflow management as above.

[Steve JP]

I had noticed this too and fitted a TR6 front spoiler which solved the problem.

If you look at the LD part website he does a secret spoiler which is basically a bit of clear plastic that fits inside the bumper to divert airflow through the rad at speed. I have bought one for the project Stag but I won't be able to tell you if it works for a while yet, but parking and high kerbs will not be a problem for SWMBO unlike the TR item!

Neil

I have the LD Parts Secret Spoiler fitted, the temperature still creeps up to just below half on mine at sustained motorway speeds, during normal use, the gauge remains at 1/4. To be honest, that's the same it used to do without it!

[stagerme]

Thanks for all the replys a little reassuring,I was just a little concerned as I'm sure my temp gauge always stayed around or below half way all the time,but in the last few months I have added a header tank and also changed the thermostat so maybe this has made some difference to running temp, it does seem to lose a small amount of water after a motorway run but under normal driving conditions the gauge reads in the middle and no loss of water,it has never overheated, hope I'm not tempting fate now! Regards Cliff

[cliff wilkins]

Mines for reference Cliff.
Just under half normal driving, around the half light traffic and normal driving, motorway after a good few miles just a fraction above half at 60 mph.But thats after a fair few miles at that speed. Thats been my observation so far only went a fraction above half on the drive it day on the motorway home but that was a good 100 miles at 60mph.

So looks like yours is ok I gather they all are different looking at some stats.

Not sure if others need a little top up after long higher speed motorway miles but i am sure someone will be able to tell you.

[Staggard]

I have the LD Parts Secret Spoiler fitted, the temperature still creeps up to just below half on mine at sustained motorway speeds, during normal use, the gauge remains at 1/4. To be honest, that's the same it used to do without it!

I had the same experience no noticeable difference

[ChasR]

FWIW since I changed the rad in my car it stays at halfway on the motorway doing around 70-80MPH . I may fit the spoiler however for peace of mind.

When I was on my old silted rad hot weather would result with me staying below 50!

[Seaking]

I've fitted Stagdads external water pump driving always sits at 1/4 traffic jams yesterday rose to 1/2 way electric fan cut in temp dropped back started to move temp back down to 1/4.
I also have a header tank and a small hidden spoiler.
Cheers Glenn