Cold Oil

[mark1gls]

I changed my radiator in the summer for a new one like this but for alot less money http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nissens-Aluminium ... 29fedd24d3

But when I drive in this cold weather my oil temperature is reading cool on the MFA around 70oC when driving at 50mph. My temperature gauge is not really working it reads cold when driving and it just starts to read when you stop in traffic as the oil temperature also increases. I have the water type oil cooler on the car.

I drive 25 miles to work, it takes 40 minutes and there is not alot of traffic so it is fairly non stop driving.

The heater is also not as hot as it used to be.

Any ideas? or is it like the good old days of fitting some tin foil to the grill to reduce the cold air!

[MikeH]

Your thermostat might be stuck open. Start the car and run it at idle for a couple of minutes. Check the top hose is getting warm, and then compare the temp of the bottom hose. The bottom hose should stay cold until the car is at normal temp (temp gauge about half way, and the oil temp around 90ish).

If the bottom hose gets warm early, then your 'stat is stuck open.

[jbo]

Ha I was just about to ask this same question.

I think my car is doing the same thing. If I let it sit and warm up it reaches normal operating temp. When I start to drive it the water temp shoots to the very bottom of the gauge. The oil temp is always between 60-70 degrees! No wonder the engine sounds like sh1t all the time if its ben driven cold for ages?!?! I stop in traffic and the oil and water temps jump up to normal!

Guessing this is def a jammed open stat too then?

Jason

[mark1gls]

Well I took the thermostat out and it seems to be working, its was a right pain to move from the car as there is a bit of the engine block right in the way as after twisting and moving it about the cover thingy came off then the thermostat was stuck in so when I finally pulled it out a load more water shot all down my arm!

I then put the thermostat in boiling water and it opened then left it on the side to cool and it closed, so I guess its working.

Is there any other ideas or am I worring about nothing, sound like JBO has the same problem?

[jbo]

Im yet to test mine. I once had a mk2 golf that had the same problem. I changed the stat three times with no luck?! If you have the stat off still its worth flushing and reerse flushing your coolant system.

God I hope mine is just the stat! Im off to bristol in a min with an always cold engine. Aaaarrgghhh

[dozzum]

Dont know about your oil cooler but mine is thermostatically controlled and only opens at 110C. Could yours be stuck open?

[jbo]

Dont know about your oil cooler but mine is thermostatically controlled and only opens at 110C. Could yours be stuck open?

Sorry mk1gls i think im jackn your thread a bit here lol.

My oil coooler is the same one found in mk1 gti's. Im pretty sure its the stat. I just got to the hotel and checked the rad hoses; upper was hot and lower was cold. So hopefully itll work once ive put in a new one.

It was not nice hearing the loud tappets for that long run?!? Pretty damn good on the petrol though!

[MikeH]

Dont know about your oil cooler but mine is thermostatically controlled and only opens at 110C. Could yours be stuck open?

110*C? Are you sure. Most of them open at about 80*C

The standard water/oil coolers aren't thermostatically controlled, incidentally.

[Brunty]

Dont know about your oil cooler but mine is thermostatically controlled and only opens at 110C. Could yours be stuck open?

110*C? Are you sure. Most of them open at about 80*C

The standard water/oil coolers aren't thermostatically controlled, incidentally.

I think he means the early oil/air coolers that had a thermostat fitted, the opening temp was rather high but can't remember off the top of my head what it was.

Obviously the coolant thermostat opens at around 78deg... :)

[jbo]

Im off to gsf within the hour to get a new thermo. hopefully mine will work! Cant see why not!

Oh to have a warm engine.....lol.

[mark1gls]

Well I finally got stuck in some traffic on Friday and my oil temperture went up to 98oC and the water temperture gauge went back to the middle so I guess its the new aluminium radiator over cooling in the cold winter we are having at the moment as I've not had this problem before with the standard radiator. I did fit some tin foil over the grill last week which did help increase the oil temperture when moving so I guess I'll do that again when it gets cold.

[Nate]

Well I took the thermostat out and it seems to be working, its was a right pain to move from the car as there is a bit of the engine block right in the way as after twisting and moving it about the cover thingy came off then the thermostat was stuck in so when I finally pulled it out a load more water shot all down my arm!

I then put the thermostat in boiling water and it opened then left it on the side to cool and it closed, so I guess its working.

Is there any other ideas or am I worring about nothing, sound like JBO has the same problem?

did you measure the temperature at which it opened? i still reckon a new 'stat will cure this.

[jbo]

I took mine to the garage yesterday.....turns out there wasnt even a stat in there! Aarrggghhh! All sorted and running fine now.

Just get another stat. I paid £7 for mine.

Jason

[Brunty]

I run mine without a stat...