Re: What is the best Thermostat temp?

[Zsolt Kovacs <zsolt@telusplanet.net>]

Does that mean that the engine temp is actually NOT fluctuating it's only the
sensor showing me weird values because of it's location?

Buchholz, Steven wrote:

> > > This is my 4th Audi (this time an 86 5k CD tq) but they all did that.
> > The
> > > temperature ranged between about 80C-110C depending on outside
> > temperature, and
> > > driving conditions. I am also curious to get an answer from someone with
> > more
> > > experience why that is. I had an old MB 200. Once it warmed up the temp
> > guage
> > > didn't move. Why does the Audi's?
> >
> >       I agree.  My old Jeep Cherokee, our old Van, my 65' Buick, even
> > our old Fuego Turbo stayed the same.  Yet every older Audi I know of does
> > this flucuation thing.  That is a good question why they do this.  I know
> > my friends VW Jetta does this too.  I wonder if the way the thermostat
> > works just seems to be all or nothing than other cars.  I really have no
> > idea though.  L8R
> >
> ... I'm not familiar with the Fuego, but I'm pretty sure that all of the
> other cars use some sort of radiator cooling fan that is attached to the
> engine to ensure that there is air flowing through the rad when you aren't
> moving very fast.  This would be a bit difficult on most of the Audi's I'm
> familiar with, as the radiator is mounted in line with cylinder #1 ... :)
> The reason you see the temp fluctuation on the Audis is that when you are
> travelling at slow speed the water temp will increase until it reaches the
> temperature at which the rad fan turns on ... at which point the airflow
> will be increased and the temp will come back down.
>
> The V8q has a rad cooling fan attached to the front of the engine as well as
> an electrically operated one ... although I still see some variation in
> temperature, I must say it is nice not to see the needle hovering by the red
> mark ...
>
> If this bothers you, you can always rig an auxiliary switch to allow you to
> turn on the fan when you feel it is appropriate ... I almost installed this
> mod on my old Fox ... but it would have required adding wiring all the way
> out to the fan as I didn't have A/C ...
>
> HTH!
> Steve Buchholz
> San Jose, CA (USA)