A question about engine temp?

[darkcue33]

Hi
I was wondering about engine temps! If i start my 33 and leave it she will eventually reach 80*c then the fan comes on. Now if you start driving the temp comes down to between 60*c and 80*c depending on how hot a day it is. When im driving home on a cold night at around 80kmh the temp guage is showing around 60*c (the little line inbetween 40 and 80!)
I was wondering if this is normal, because someone says something about the thermostat being stuck which causes the temp to go down as you drive!

I thought it was normal for the temp to go down as you are driving and getting the outside air going through the radiator, all the older cars i have had have certainly worked like this! can anyone verify the truth for me please! Is my car working normal???

Cheers!

[gritsop]

Hi,

Temp on the 33 should be at 82-85 C. no matter how cold or hot a day is.

In my 33 during winter the temp never drops below 85C and during summer in stop & go traffic it can get between 95 and 100 as the fan kicks in.

I guess its time for a new thermostat!

Regards

[lenus]

+1 the engine should always run at or above it's operating temperature of ~80deg, if the engine is running below running temp it will cause excessive wear inside the engine because the oil is not at it's most efficient temperature, and if you have the fuel injected model, the car will be running a little rich to try bring it up to operating temp - using more fuel.



lenus.

[ALFA33boxer]

Mmmmm…, my fuel injected 33 does the same. In traffic or when is not moving with the engine on she easily reaches 80*C-90*C and the fun kicks at above 85*C. But when moving, if there’s no traffic or in the highway, it reaches 60*C and that’s it. The temp stays to 60*C.
So, are you guys saying that this is not normal??? It means that once the engine has reached 80-90*C it doesn’t go under 80* if everything (thermostat) is working how it should???!!!

Cheers,
Elvis

[33gold]

My 33 is the same, never gets hot until in traffic, 60 degrees when cruising. 95 to 100 and fan switches on. Then again with italian electrics who knows what the temp actually is

[darkcue33]

I agree, my series 3 1.5ie was the same as my current series 1. in traffic she gets to just above 80 then the fan kicks in, when cruising she is at 60 or just above........i believe this is the way it should be as when u r cruising u r getting the outside air though the radiator which obviously cools things down. My 1975 351v8 LTD is the same, all the other cars i have had have been like this. I was just reading a thread that says the thermostat is faulty if it does this, im confused!

[lenus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkcue33 I agree, my series 3 1.5ie was the same as my current series 1. in traffic she gets to just above 80 then the fan kicks in, when cruising she is at 60 or just above........i believe this is the way it should be as when u r cruising u r getting the outside air though the radiator which obviously cools things down. My 1975 351v8 LTD is the same, all the other cars i have had have been like this. I was just reading a thread that says the thermostat is faulty if it does this, im confused!

[ALFA33boxer]

Ok, ...how long does a 33 takes to warm up if the thermostat works.
It will need a lot more time if the thermostat is blocked to fully open, until all the water gets hot!!!
Ok, I'm convinced that I got a faulty thermostat, so I changed with my spare one that was taken from my old engine, but when turned on the car I noticed that the engine started to warm up quicker and went for a drive, sh*t...,when cruising there is just a little of difference in the temp, from 60*C that used to stay with the old thermo, this one makes the temp stay to 70*C or below but always under 80*C
Hmmmm...this other one is rubbish too,

Ok than knowing the importance of the engine temp I decide to by a new one, but in all the ''part shops'' they answered in the same way: We don't have that item....
Finally I got someone who can order from Italy [I hope]
Finally some luck.

Cheers,
Elvis

[darkcue33]

I dont know whether to get a new thermostat or not. I have been driving my 33 for the last 3 years the way it is just now, i thought it was normal for the temp to go down as u r cruising on the open road. How much is a new one?

[77SudTi]

The temperature fluctuations you are all talking about are totally normal. I have always used brand new thermostats when rebuilding motors and the only time I had a problem was when one did not open until 120 degrees (far too hot).

It is normal for the temp to take its time getting to 80 degrees, all my twin carbs have done it and there is no way of helping it. In cooler weather the temp will sit below 80 and when coasting down a hill will get as low as 60. I think if you are seeing these fluctuations your cooling system is doing just fine. No matter how much time and money you spend on buying and replacing new thermostats you will see the same issue, give or take a few degrees.

i think the key value to worry about is how hot your engine is getting, not how cool it is. Even though the gauge may read 60 in cooler weather, oil temp is probably closer to 80 in the places where it needs to be, plus factor in the error from gauge and sender too...heat and resistance will change things vastly.

my 2c...

[Greek]

Thats right. Now that my cooling system is serviced, temp is generally at 75' with maximum 85 in traffic with enviroment temp at 20-25.At 85'' the fan kicks in and the temp drops at 80'' and when just cruising it might fall at 70.
When the system was not service with old water pump and dirty frig just add 10'' to the above numbers....

[darkcue33]

So mines is normal then? in traffic mines is around 80, fan kicks in at 85, once movin on open road its around 70, and on the open road cruising on a cold night its at 60. i have just had a fresh coolant change and new water pump and timinmg belts and tensioners. I dont have anything to worry about? My other 33's have been exactly the same as above.

[spottie]

My 33 ran at 60 deg when I first got it. It had a stuck open thermostat, once replaced it now runs at just above 80deg when warm, never falls below this at any stage even on the open road at speed. However in heavy traffic in the summer it gets close to 100deg but that's rare. Fan kicks in around 90deg.

[ALFA33boxer]

I'm getting confused ...
What is the truth?
I have been searching online all this week and found so many contradictory materials and threads about engine temp and thermostats. What I understood is that if the thermostat is working, once the engine has reached the optimal temp (around 80*C), it won't drop under 80*C, no meter haw or where you drive (hard, in traffic, in the highway, winter or summer). Once the engine is warm it stays like that and the thermo regulates everything. If the temp drops when cruising or if it has trouble reaching 70-80*C than the thermostat has given up.

Cheers,
Elvis

[33gold]

The thermostat is there so the engine can heat up quickly, period. put one in some boiling water and watch it's reaction, it isn't electronically controlled after all! Personally in warmer countries i think your better off without it; I would rather run colder than hotter.