is this normal?

[Lee36328]

This is an interesting discussion.

Looks like differences of opinion also needs a thermostat to regulate the temparature... what? Lets all be cool like Russie's engine, ok?

I hope we can all express our different opinions maturely, and defend our points of view passionately if need be, without allowing the passion to overflow... Thanks in advance.

 

[selespeed]

selespeed, I'm only telling what I've read before about this things. Of course many people, including me, don't change things like shock absorber and thermostat until they breakdown and that can be even +10 years. But that don't mean that they operating at optimum efficiency. In fact the optimum lifespan of a shock absorber is supposed to be 2 years! You can check on the internet.

don't believe too much what the internet says. lifespan of shock is very much dependent on driving style and frequency. so there isn't such thing as optimum life span for shock in this case. what the nternet says about 2 years is only a GUIDE. i said this based on my experience, not internet.

as for thermostat, my temperature gauge indicated that it's rising steadily while i was driving one day last week. so something wasn't right and as i got myself in a traafic crawl it went up further and so i finally pulled over to check. the engine compartment was very hot and engine cooling obviously didnt work. it turned out that the fan wasn't working.

later when the fan was fixed, the temperature was back to normal. so, my conclusion is that this wasn't due to thermostat nor was it the radiator. when all else are working properly - radiator, fan, temp. gauge then the culprit mabe the waer pump or like you said thermostat.

Tolerances of engine wearing part are designed for specific operating temperatures. Of course operating above or below for short time span is okay and expected like in start up period. But if continuous and LONG RUN your wear rate will be faster.

On a cool rainy day, your thermostat would shut if working optimally and as you said, the temp will immediately go up. If not working optimally, the temp will stay slightly low lah....

that's in theory. but for all my cars on rainy days, the temp would go up initially and then fall on heavy rainy days. i believe this is normal. there is a RANGE of temperature engines can operate on - not too hot and not too cold but a dip slight below should be ok!

 

[Russie]

hohoho, the temperature needle fell towards the blue area again this morning, but not for long. Again, it was becoz i was crusing at about 100km/h on NKVE in da morning. Then within minutes, it went up again to middle position. Well, dunno...too confused especially so many inputs here, haha.

Seriously, driving a BMW is really something new to be explored. Certain things which i did not experience while driving a wira b4 this come to my surprise. Classic surprises are (just to name some):-

1) fluctuating temperature gauge ---> already discussed.
2) gearbox feels sluggish and reluctant to change gear when i did not warm up accordingly
3) there was one time when i parked my car for 2 days, didnt drive and the next thing..when i engaged reverse gear, the car couldnt move at all...got a shock of my life, but luckily it managed to engage later *phewwww*
4) there was once i park my car outside the hot sun for the whole day, then when i tried to crank the engine....gosh...couldnt start! engine kept mati, after 4th or 5th time only managed to start
5) when driving at very cold weather, the engine feels like wanna die off at 500 rpm only, similarly this happens sometimes when the car is park under hot sun...

wow, i could go on but i guess its better to leave some of the discussion in other threads

 

[Lee36328]

Russie,

My experience based on my e36 (328), and my observations on your points.

1. Temperature gauge rock-steady in the center, NEVER fluctuates, unless something is wrong
2. your gearbox - seems to be due for rebuild
3. The car should drive fine without that symptom even after weeks/months of being left stationary.
4. check your starter
5. Have never experienced this before. My guess, vaccum leak, or idle control valve...

 

[Russie]

Lee,

Wah u r scaring me man! seems like all 5 of my surprises also need special attention?

1) will be careful and take note on it b4 sending in for a thorough check up soon
2) i thought e36 gearbox needs to be warmed up b4 being in optimum stage? (i.e. the gearbox oil needs to be warmed up b4 u get the smoothiness)
3) linked to item no. 2
4) starter seems ok during normal days....this is an isolated case
5) i suspect vacuum leak too, maybe at those rubber hoses? ICV...i did get a mechanic to clean it b4...but these few days getting the vibration condition again...

maybe i should really get a reliable personnel to really do a check-up on my car and change what needs to be changed? hmmm...

 

[khisham]

Resolve The Temperature Issue, Very Soon !

Russie,

My experience based on my e36 (328), and my observations on your points.

1. Temperature gauge rock-steady in the center, NEVER fluctuates, unless something is wrong

maybe i should really get a reliable personnel to really do a check-up on my car and change what needs to be changed? hmmm...

...first priority is the temperature issue.....& reliable personnel would be wise...

...your gearbox is probably in need of simple re-calibration & lubrication (check to see if there are leaks, BMW gearboxes are hardy)

...once the temperature goes redline, other problems of the car are truly insignificant at that moment...except maybe for the alarm system, nothing else will work, then...

...waiting for the last moment could be, the last moment...

 

[meetoo]

Seriously, driving a BMW is really something new to be explored. Certain things which i did not experience while driving a wira b4 this come to my surprise.

All the surprises you mention are not normal. They all point to something wrong with this part or that. Time to spend some time and $$$ in a workshop. It's true that the longer you wait, the worse it will become.

 

[rubes72]

hi! if your gauge shows drop in temp, one reason could be too much water in radiator, or radiator has air bubbles. the job of the coolent is to stabilize the fluid temp at optimum, so if temp fluctuates, then possible coolent problem. just thought you may want to know

 

[Russie]

thanks for the tips, will take note on that.

 

[keray]

I previously had a similar issue where when it was raining and a cool day the temperature gauge drops. The reason it happened was that the fan clutch was jammed in the engaged position. Normally the fan disengages when the temprature is not too hot. When the fan clutched was jammed basically what will happen is that your will be running a little cold, and also losing some power since it is engaged all the time. Try checking your fan clutch, it is most likely the culprit.

 

[K.M.]

hi guys, this pic was taken during a cold morning *cloudy like wanna rain*
was travelling along nkve then... wonder if this is normal for such weather? coz the water temperature gauge shows slightly below the middle mark. Anyone of u experienced this b4? pls share. thanks

IMHO it is not normal. Last time I had this problem when the Thermostat was about to stop functioning. Then needle change from cooler to hotter...

 

[selespeed]

Russie,

My experience based on my e36 (328), and my observations on your points.

1. Temperature gauge rock-steady in the center, NEVER fluctuates, unless something is wrong
2. your gearbox - seems to be due for rebuild
3. The car should drive fine without that symptom even after weeks/months of being left stationary.
4. check your starter
5. Have never experienced this before. My guess, vaccum leak, or idle control valve...

hi lee,

temperature gauge cannot be rock steady in the center when u are you caught for a serious traffic jam in hot weather for HOURS! it MUST rise and this is normal. this is because in spite of the fan working very hard till it cannot go any faster, cooling is no longer efficient. therefore, temperature must rise maybe gradually. howeve, if just stuck in jam for a while, gauge maybe rock steady!

there is so much a radiator can do and there is so much the fan can do.

just my view!

 

[Lee36328]

hi lee,

temperature gauge cannot be rock steady in the center when u are you caught for a serious traffic jam in hot weather for HOURS! it MUST rise and this is normal. this is because in spite of the fan working very hard till it cannot go any faster, cooling is no longer efficient. therefore, temperature must rise maybe gradually. howeve, if just stuck in jam for a while, gauge maybe rock steady!

there is so much a radiator can do and there is so much the fan can do.

just my view!

selespeed,

Interesting thought.

So far, I've been caught in a 1-2 hour almost stationary jam, and yet, still rock-steady-in-the-middle.

So far, have not seen the needle move up beyond halfway point, except when my hose popped out recently. Maybe have not been in a jam long enough, :dunno:.

But I hear you, and should I have the misfortune of being caught in another long jam, will monitor and report.

 

[SuperCharger]

i think there's a problem with your thermostat. the engine is suppose to run at a certain desired temperature.. the termorstat is suppose to block the radiator water from circulating until the it reaches the desired temperature... only then the cooling system will function and keep the engine at the desired temperature..

so in your case is the car is running cooler, there's no control in the termorstat..have it checked...