[s-cars] Not exactly S-car-related, but very Audi...

[Eric Phillips]

Thanks, guys, and Wylie, too.

:)

Wylie's response was just to me, but I'll summarize - his fluctuating
needle was cured by replacement t-stat.

He also said that the needle never came up much in his coupe and
sedan.  Now, since the AAN is the direct descendent of the 7A, the
difference in behavior is troublesome to me.  Once the S6 hits the fat
mark, it stays there, unless it is super hot outside or I've been
running the boost hard...

I do have VAG-COM, and a Ross-Tech dongle.  I do not have a decent
laptop battery, nor an accessory plug to run the laptop for more than
the five minutes it's pooped-out battery charge lasts.

I completely agree that seeing the temp during a drive is best.

Now, let's ASSume that the temp actually fluctuates while driving - it
*should* maintain 87 degrees Celcius during steady-state cruise,
right?  Unless it is -40 out...(and it isn't.)

On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:57 AM, Mark Pollan <mpollan1 at aol.com> wrote:
> Is it truly the coolant temp or is your gauge and/or MFTS wanky?  I assume
> you can check coolant temp via CC head manipulation.  Perhaps more simply
> asked is whether wifey gets hot?  Oops did I say that ;-)  Does Lago's
> coolant get up to temp as expected with corresponding nice warm air or is
> the heated air lukewarm?
>
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Eric Phillips
> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 2:34 PM
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: [s-cars] Not exactly S-car-related, but very Audi...
>
> Patient:  1991 90q20V Sedan, hereafter called "Lago".
>
> Problem:  Coolant heats slowly in comparison to S-car and wife's 2.8L
> V6 Audi motor, but does finally get to temp.  BUT, gauge reading is
> dependent upon driving conditions - on the highway, the gauge barely
> comes over the thin mark before the fat mark that is generally
> considered "operating temperature" by any Audi owner.  Sometimes it
> hangs out below that thin mark.  In town, the gauge hangs out between
> that thin mark and the fat (normal temp) mark.
>
> My first thought was a stuck open t-stat.  Replaced it with a good
> (tested in a pan of water on the stove) 87-degree t-stat, and guess
> what?
>
> Same behavior.  Lago is sick, and I don't know the cure.
>
> I surely have done SOMETHING wrong.  But what?  I seek the wisdom of
> other 5-cyl, 20V DIY greasemonkeys...