This is my first time operating in a 0°F environment. Starts like a champ, everything works great except the coolant temp maxes out at about 2 needle widths above the "C" hash mark. Turn the front & rear heaters on and it's down to 1 needle width on the highway - doesn't leave much for heating the interior. Normal? I'm thinking about finding a way to block off part of the radiator before making a trip from Kentucky to northern Michigan.
Cold Weather Coolant Temp
- Thread starter bryan vdZ
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OK, thermostat wide open, not regulating. I didn't consider that since it it keeps to a tight range in normal weather but now it seems obvious. Thanks.
The two experiences I’ve had with a bad thermostat both occurred in unusually cold weather. I’ve wondered if the unusually cold temps force the older thermostat to contract to a position it hasn’t been in before and “stick” in position due to build up on the shaft that would otherwise be worn away during the range of typical operation.
Stuck thermostat. Same thing happened in my old volvo (also very cold temps, so your theory may have merit ). The heat should still get hot enough to roast you out, even in sub zero weather.
Easiest to check coolant level in rad.
As stated above.
Check while cool or if impatient wear good gloves to keep from burning your hands with hot spraying coolant.
Open very slowly...hiss.
Don't forget these units take time to warm up , made worse when temps are down to -40
Pic of white GM
These guys had to use their own commercial heater to start at -30
In pic two it is -40 at 10:00am Toyota is running, the sky is filled with ice fog.
Poor bastards in white GM never had the coolant tested....they started, went inside while unit ran then came out to discover coolant everywhere .
As stated above.
Check while cool or if impatient wear good gloves to keep from burning your hands with hot spraying coolant.
Open very slowly...hiss.
Don't forget these units take time to warm up , made worse when temps are down to -40
Pic of white GM
These guys had to use their own commercial heater to start at -30
In pic two it is -40 at 10:00am Toyota is running, the sky is filled with ice fog.
Poor bastards in white GM never had the coolant tested....they started, went inside while unit ran then came out to discover coolant everywhere .
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