General Struggling to maintain engine temp in cold weather

[Didge3]

Is this a normal Panda thing or not? Can't say I noticed it last winter,
I was driving up the motorway today and noticed the engine temp, despite having been running of plenty of time, was a mere 60 degrees.
I turned the heater off and it climbed to 65 but didn't budge beyond there so I switched it back on to a disappointingly low amount of heat. Over an hour of motorway driving and she was still sat a 60c, only did the temp start to climb to a normal 75/80 degrees when I hit traffic (and too my relief the heater finally gave me some... well heat)

Is this normal? Surely the engine isn't very efficient if its running cool.

 

[panda1408]

Running a bit cooler in the winter is normal, but it should be warmer than that. A new thermostat may improve it, blocking off the radiator can also help, a piece of cardboard inbetween the radiator and front panel works well.

 

[onemanmade]

Do you have a hot air pipe between the manifold and airbox?

 

[Didge3]

Running a bit cooler in the winter is normal, but it should be warmer than that. A new thermostat may improve it, blocking off the radiator can also help, a piece of cardboard inbetween the radiator and front panel works well.

I may try the cardboard thanks, I think last winter it ran around 70/75 in this weather. I thought thermostat is usually to do with the engine running too hot.

Do you have a hot air pipe between the manifold and airbox?

I do but it has split open a bit...

 

[VmanC]

I thought thermostat is usually to do with the engine running too hot.

If the t/stat is stuck closed the engine will run hot, if it's stuck open it will run cold.

 

[panda1408]

I may try the cardboard thanks, I think last winter it ran around 70/75 in this weather. I thought thermostat is usually to do with the engine running too hot.


I do but it has split open a bit...

If the thermostat is stuck open it will make it run cool, it's when it gets stuck shut that you get overheating. Sounds to me like it does need changing, the cardboard will help but will only mask the problem.

The pipe from the manifold to the airbox will make no difference to the coolant temperature, that is only there to prevent carb icing, so no need to worry about that.

 

[Didge3]

If the t/stat is stuck closed the engine will run hot, if it's stuck open it will run cold.

Can I diagnose this visually? Or just replace it because its the likely cause?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Can I diagnose this visually? Or just replace it because its the likely cause?

Just replace it because it's more than likely - always go main dealer and get an OEM part, its only about £25-£30 for a OEM thermostat and gasket, and there are many many cheaper ones which will save you about a tenner at best that will either already be faulty, or fail very quickly

This is what the thermostat was like on the Stilo we've got when it failed and was stuck open. Under the pressure of a cooling system this will let coolant pass with ease causing your over cooling :bang:

 

[kolza]

Not to worry about Tstat.
I've got same, during last week when commuting to work indicated temp was. 63* - 65* when outside temp at 3-5*. This morning was on minus, engine didn't get warmer than 58* with half of the grill blanked off with black adhesive vinil. Full size cardboard seems to be the way to go.

 

[goodgirl156]

As above you can test in using boiling water, but for the price its just as easy to replace it.
They tend to fail open (which is a dam sight better than the other way around) And then run cool.

Its about a 10 min job once you have found a 10mm socket and some coolent.

 

[Didge3]

As above you can test in using boiling water, but for the price its just as easy to replace it.
They tend to fail open (which is a dam sight better than the other way around) And then run cool.

Its about a 10 min job once you have found a 10mm socket and some coolent.

I'll try and investigate, theres just something about this weather that doesn't exactly inspire me to go outside and spend half an hour under the bonnet

 

[Dragon Man]

Amen to that! so glad i have the burner in the garage!

 

[Didge3]

Well in traditional Italian style she decided to work normally today, running at 85* with the heater on

 

[goodgirl156]

Did you hit it with a branch ?

 

[firecolour]

Running cool is also very bad for your engine since friction loads will stay high inside the engine.

Best get it fixed. You shouldn't need the cardboard trick to get it to run at normal temps in our climate.