Coupe quattro running too hot!

[Huw Powell]

> It seems to me that my Coupe Quattro has been running for a while way too
> hot. On normal journeys at around 75mph, I usually get an oil temp of just
> two LEDs below 130°C with the oil level being ok, which seems to me to be a
> little high...

the 2.3 engines are kind of "oil cooled" once they are running a little
hard.  I'm seeing up to 130 in my 90Q at highway speeds now that it is
warm out, with well behaved water temps.  It's the piston oil squirters
that do it, draw a lot of excess heat straight into the oil.

> Moreover, the water temp won't go below 90°C or will eventually get even
> higher at 50-60mph travel speed...I've seen that the radiator is pretty
> leaky (the top of it is a greenish colour), but I usually get little coolant
> leaks (less than 1/4 a quart per 1000 miles..)
> Could it be that the termostat is opening at a too high temp?

it could be that it is time to replace all the parts of your cooling
system.  (fix one, you'll just cook the next weakest link).  That sounds
yucky I know, but are you really driving around with a leaking
radiator?  You are just risking a little 5 minute excursion into air
cooled engine territory which is very unkind to your engine parts and
tolerances.

I'd get a new radiator, new or eliminate aux radiator if you have one
(keep it if you run AC, live int he South, etc), all new hoses (5 or six
of them), cross your fingers on your heater core unless you really want
to spend some time, flush the block nicely and new coolant - and, oh
yes, a new thermostat while you're doing it will be just fine!

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/