Advice on Temperature issue

[vinee59]

Hi Guys,

When driving to work this morning I noticed that my temp gauge took a while to start moving... In fact it didn't go fully to 90. I have changed both temp sensor and thermostat back in November but it seems that when the car is running but I am not driving the temp gauge goers to 90 and stay at 90 but as soon as I start driving it goes right down to 60-70.

Could the thermostat be stuck open? As if I am driving the water pump will drive more water throw the engine causing it to cool down?

Any help with that to avoid me to replace both thermostat and sensor once again would be appreciated

 

[pedro1989]

Sounds typical of a thermostat mate, maybe you've just had some bad luck and the new one from November is failing again.

 

[Sprogpole]

That’s your stat stuck open there fella.

Basically, when they fail, they’re designed to stick open. This means that water is going through your radiator all the time, instead of the stat only letter water to the rad when it reaches circa 85°.

When you’re stationery with the engine running, there is no air cooling the rad so the temp rises, then when you are moving forward, the water is cooled in the rad and the temp drops.

A working stat will open/close as needed to control the flow of water to the rad and hold the water temp in the block at about 90°.

 

[vinee59]

Thx guys for confirming my thought, a thermostat it is then