Is my temp gauge too high?

Big lumps of metals and spanners. Including servicing and fluids.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Ciaoflyer
Registered user
Posts: 105
Joined: 04 Mar 2015, 21:08
80-90 Mem No: 0

Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Ciaoflyer »

DJ 2.1 temp gauge gets up to 3/4 before any fans come on. The Van seems not to be over heating and cooling system works as it should, no leaks and fluid goes up and down in the tub behind the rear flap. However, before I rebuilt the engine needle only went to half way before fans kicked in but the system was pressuring due to cylinder head seal hence rebuild.

My question is should the needle go so high, it sits a 3/4 on idle, then comes down a tiny bit, goes back to 3/4 and then slow fan comes on.

Could it be a earth problem as all sensors have been replaced including 2 speed switch in rad. Both speeds work. If I put headlights on it goes even higher but comes down if I switch off. Red light never flashes.

Image
1988 Autohomes Karisma DJ 2.1 Auto

TONYT25T25
Registered user
Posts: 1825
Joined: 16 Sep 2013, 17:19
80-90 Mem No: 13596
Location: Hampshire

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by TONYT25T25 »

Interesting about the headlights affecting the temperature gauge, I noticed that my temperature gauge also increased when I put my sidelights on, haven't found out yet why or if it is an issue, my gauge under normal conditions only wanders past the midway part when stuck in traffic on a hot or warm day.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

User avatar
ZsZ
Registered user
Posts: 1409
Joined: 12 Feb 2009, 16:28
80-90 Mem No: 14899
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Contact:

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by ZsZ »

clean ground connections at the engine, gearbox and behind fuse panel together with steady ~14V at the fuse panel while the engine is running is a key to an accurate temperature gauge
however your statement that the fan comes on on this stage can assume that the gauge is correct but your engine runs hot.
 
Zoltan
1986 Multivan ex-Caravelle. Van since 2006, running mTDi 1Z since 2008 with Fiat Croma 1.9 TDid pump 2008-2019, custom pump since 2019
5spd custom box 4.57 diff + 0.74 5th

Ciaoflyer
Registered user
Posts: 105
Joined: 04 Mar 2015, 21:08
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Ciaoflyer »

ZsZ wrote: 12 Nov 2020, 10:38 clean ground connections at the engine, gearbox and behind fuse panel together with steady ~14V at the fuse panel while the engine is running is a key to an accurate temperature gauge
however your statement that the fan comes on on this stage can assume that the gauge is correct but your engine runs hot.
 

Thanks for this, how do I make my engine run cooler?
1988 Autohomes Karisma DJ 2.1 Auto

User avatar
ZsZ
Registered user
Posts: 1409
Joined: 12 Feb 2009, 16:28
80-90 Mem No: 14899
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Contact:

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by ZsZ »

First be sure that your temperature is actually high or not.
Measure the pipes in the engine bay with an IR thermometer and clean the electrical connections (ground points, temp sender connectors, +ve connectors from alternator to fuse panel) to have accurate gauge.
If the high temperature is proven then you have to address that.
Unfortunately I am not an expert on petrol so cannot help you in that but bad timing can cause overheating AFAIK
Zoltan
1986 Multivan ex-Caravelle. Van since 2006, running mTDi 1Z since 2008 with Fiat Croma 1.9 TDid pump 2008-2019, custom pump since 2019
5spd custom box 4.57 diff + 0.74 5th

User avatar
DoubleOSeven
Registered user
Posts: 2483
Joined: 25 Jul 2014, 21:10
80-90 Mem No: 14520
Location: Reading, England
Contact:

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by DoubleOSeven »

Swap out the 87C thermostat for an 80C one.
1990 Volkswagen Transporter 2.1 Manual
2005 Porsche 911 3.6 Manual
2012 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Automatic

Ciaoflyer
Registered user
Posts: 105
Joined: 04 Mar 2015, 21:08
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Ciaoflyer »

Ok, cleaned all earth points and voltage at fuse box reads 13.89. I have reset timing and it now seems to be running cooler, when driving needle sits here... is it still hot?

Image
1988 Autohomes Karisma DJ 2.1 Auto

TONYT25T25
Registered user
Posts: 1825
Joined: 16 Sep 2013, 17:19
80-90 Mem No: 13596
Location: Hampshire

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by TONYT25T25 »

A bit more information that may put your mind at rest, presume all coolant tanks are at the level they should be, also found this from a previous thread which may help

1. The flashing red light in the temp gauge has two functions.
a.  If the gauge is above 3/4 and is flashing it means overheating
b.  If below 3/4 and flashing it means the coolant level in the header tank is low.


 
 
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

Ciaoflyer
Registered user
Posts: 105
Joined: 04 Mar 2015, 21:08
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Ciaoflyer »

TONYT25T25 wrote: 12 Nov 2020, 15:05 A bit more information that may put your mind at rest, presume all coolant tanks are at the level they should be, also found this from a previous thread which may help

1. The flashing red light in the temp gauge has two functions.
a.  If the gauge is above 3/4 and is flashing it means overheating
b.  If below 3/4 and flashing it means the coolant level in the header tank is low.

Thanks for this! Light only flashes when ignition switched on and then goes off, all coolant levels are at correct level.
 
 
1988 Autohomes Karisma DJ 2.1 Auto

User avatar
Mocki
Membership Admin
Posts: 16957
Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
80-90 Mem No: 428
Location: Mansfield Notts
Contact:

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Mocki »

Image
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
👀
________________

1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Caravelle TS TinTop Camper 
 

Ciaoflyer
Registered user
Posts: 105
Joined: 04 Mar 2015, 21:08
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Ciaoflyer »

Mocki wrote: 12 Nov 2020, 15:49 Image

This is perfect, thank you! Never seen this, certainly put my mind at rest!

Where is this from?
1988 Autohomes Karisma DJ 2.1 Auto

User avatar
Mocki
Membership Admin
Posts: 16957
Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
80-90 Mem No: 428
Location: Mansfield Notts
Contact:

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Mocki »

It’s from the VW T25 owners handbook that would have lived in your glovebox when the van was new .....

That said, the gauge takes the reading from the sender , which can be different resistances , I changed one in one of ours just because I changed the water pump and it reads three needles widths higher , swapped back and gauge back where it used to be ....


Headlights affecting the level suggests either dirty earths or voltage regulator on the dash is faulty
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
👀
________________

1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Caravelle TS TinTop Camper 
 

Ciaoflyer
Registered user
Posts: 105
Joined: 04 Mar 2015, 21:08
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Ciaoflyer »

Mocki wrote: 12 Nov 2020, 18:22 It’s from the VW T25 owners handbook that would have lived in your glovebox when the van was new .....

That said, the gauge takes the reading from the sender , which can be different resistances , I changed one in one of ours just because I changed the water pump and it reads three needles widths higher , swapped back and gauge back where it used to be ....


Headlights affecting the level suggests either dirty earths or voltage regulator on the dash is faulty

I changed my sensor when I rebuilt engine in the summer and it reads higher than the old, if I can find it may swap back. Where is voltage reg on dash?
1988 Autohomes Karisma DJ 2.1 Auto

Ciaoflyer
Registered user
Posts: 105
Joined: 04 Mar 2015, 21:08
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by Ciaoflyer »

Ok, found voltage reg on brickwerks! Cheap so may replace.
1988 Autohomes Karisma DJ 2.1 Auto

TONYT25T25
Registered user
Posts: 1825
Joined: 16 Sep 2013, 17:19
80-90 Mem No: 13596
Location: Hampshire

Re: Is my temp gauge too high?

Post by TONYT25T25 »

Must remember this information ref voltage regulator when I get round to sorting mine out, is this the one quoted on Brickwerks which has to be adapted to fit?
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

Post Reply