93 1.4 Si - high normal temp and gear knob

[FrostyWolf]

Hello fellow astraniers

I recently (2 months ago) bought my 93 Astra 1.4 SI in GT trim. After it was stolen and recovered mostly unharmed, I got to trying to fix some issues with it.

My normal temperature is 98-102°C, I have tried flushing the radiator and some tubes, but it only improved slightly.

The fan only kicks in very late (when the needle touches red on the cluster) since it seems like the radiator is not getting that hot on the sensor.

It has 250k km, I was wondering if only a new pump and thermostat would fix this. Also is this engine (C14SE) fitted with auto-bleed for the colling system?

Unrelated but another question: The European Opel that I have has this wierd shift knob green plastic thing, anyone know if I can remove it without breaking it to fit another gear knob?

Thanks very much.

 

[FrostyWolf]

I also shunted the fan switch so the fan was always on. That only decreased the overall temperature slightly by 5-6°C and it never went past 100.

I feared this could cause additional wear on the fan and I now I will only do this in case the temperature goes to high on a long journey

 

[DavebGsi]

hi,

I'm pretty sure these cars used to always run that high instandard form which is barmey, someone else maybe able to confirm though. Fitting a ' cold stat' is what everyone does.
as for the green bit, you have to cut it off, i remember cutting mine off to fit an aftermarket gearknob.

hope this helps!

 

[FrostyWolf]

Seems a bit weird, I would imagine they middle of the dial is the intended temperature! Or maybe I am to used to my father's golf 7 tdi which stays on 90 regardless if it's -10 degres or 45!
I'm looking at some thermostats and it seems most open at either 87ºC or 92ºC, so I guess either the factory one opens much later or mine is just really old.
Also, my heaters do not seem to work, maybe that is related? Only blows cold and turning them on increases the engine temp by some 5º, even if no hot air comes out.

 

[DavebGsi]

Seems a bit weird, I would imagine they middle of the dial is the intended temperature! Or maybe I am to used to my father's golf 7 tdi which stays on 90 regardless if it's -10 degres or 45!
I'm looking at some thermostats and it seems most open at either 87ºC or 92ºC, so I guess either the factory one opens much later or mine is just really old.
Also, my heaters do not seem to work, maybe that is related? Only blows cold and turning them on increases the engine temp by some 5º, even if no hot air comes out.

ahh that sound strange, would be a fault but slightly different.

I would buy the 87c thermostat and that will keep things nice and cool. Remember this is the cracking open temp, so although it opens at 87, will drive more like 89c which is a good thing.

I think standard is 95c so seems about right.

As for the no heaters, would have to see if the pipe on the bulkhead is warm, there is no tap or anything like a for, its fed all the time and should be one of the first things to get warm. If the pipe is warm the heater matrix could be blocked

 

[MarkGSi]

when in traffic, Im sure our 1.6 16v needle sits where your needle is in your picture. if i remember correctly our ‘red’ segment is labelled 100 degrees on the dash, not 110.

I flush my engine with it running. when the stat opens, i have one person topping the header tank up with warm water and me regulating water out of the bottom radiator hose. seems to flush a lot more effectively than simply emptying the system and refilling. got to mind your fingers though!

 

[DavebGsi]

That's a good call that! Amazing how much rubbish I get in a coolant system

 

[FrostyWolf]

I just changed cities this week for uni and now I live in the middle of the city, which made everything worse.

I had to move some stuff from shops to uni (5ish km) and had to stop in the side of the road since the temp was already near the red not even 3km in since there are a lot of traffic lights and pedestrians.

I shorted the fan switch after letting it cool a bit and now it permanently stays at 100 degrees, only dropping a little bit if I go at about 40kmh.

I did a 200km highway trip at 35 degrees ambient temp and it was always between 98-103, I tried going 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 kmh but it made no change, only when going up or down a hill did it move.

It's weird since it goes to 100, then quickly back to 90, then slowly to 100 and beyond (if I stop), always.

 

[DavebGsi]

I would probably say the thermostat is opening, but only a tiny bit not allowing full flow of the water?

 

[FrostyWolf]

My new guess too, since the fan is helping but cutting in too late, maybe the radiator is not getting warm enough to activate the sensor.

I was also considering the water pump, maybe I should change both but I need the car for a few months, don't see much damage from running it like this (except horrible fuel consumption) but then again I am only used to doing this on my motorcycle (which is also in my garage due to the thermostat xD)

 

[MarkGSi]

from cold our temp gauge goes to 95 fairly quickly, then you see the gauge drop to 90 then it goes back up to 92/93. this temp going down from 95 must be when the stat opens and allows the cold water from the rad to circulate into the system. if i didnt see this i would suspect the stat isnt working correctly?

Also is your engine actually that hot? the gauges can be dodgy?

re: the golf gauge. they are designed to show 90 degress, any temp in the 80 to 100 range. our old cars have a real time gauge in effect. apparently modern drivers dont like to see a fluctuating temp gauge. if you have a gauge in a more modern car, it tells lies. Our Subaru just has a blue light from cold, i assume this would go red if the temp was too hot.

 

[DavebGsi]

from cold our temp gauge goes to 95 fairly quickly, then you see the gauge drop to 90 then it goes back up to 92/93. this temp going down from 95 must be when the stat opens and allows the cold water from the rad to circulate into the system. if i didnt see this i would suspect the stat isnt working correctly?

Also is your engine actually that hot? the gauges can be dodgy?

re: the golf gauge. they are designed to show 90 degress, any temp in the 80 to 100 range. our old cars have a real time gauge in effect. apparently modern drivers dont like to see a fluctuating temp gauge. if you have a gauge in a more modern car, it tells lies. Our Subaru just has a blue light from cold, i assume this would go red if the temp was too hot.

Yea everything is delayed in a modern car, fuel gauge is the same now days isn't it, they don't go up and down like they used to!
But temp gauge is pretty crucial isn't it!