Car Temperature fluctuating from 90--> 70 when driving? What could it be?? and also..

Danny_G

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Did you even bother to read my post (hint: number 3)? If you can't be arsed to read the answers I'll not bother replying any more.

Sorry I read it again....

I went back to your post and I
"Been-through-it-all" :cool: to read that point.

Thanks for the advice.

motorguy

Danny_G wrote: »

Car is Peugeot 406 SALOON 2000, petrol.


[See picture attached]



When driving around, letting the engine get heated the temp gauge it is usually on 90, constantly.

Recently when driving, for 30minutes+ it has recently started to go to 80,

and then back up to 90.

It went to 70 too.


Other things noticed.

* Oil is Not milky

* Exhaust shows no fluid coming out, and is clear, odorless

* No white smoke

* Sometimes water escapes the coolant cap

* Petrol seems to be burning more quicker

*No milky oil

*Radiator has recently been replaced so is new.

* Cambelt/ water pump has recently been replaced

* Petrol burning quicker!
(the level on the petrol gauge seems to be getting less at a quicker pace - burning petrol quicker)

1) Is 90 degrees a common temperature for the car to be at, while driving? (which it is, it is on 90 often)

2) What does it sound like, from all the symptoms I have presented?


3) after a long drive, with the engine still on, When parked idle,

..... then going to the back of the car, and smelling the exhaust pipe, it doesn't smell of anything. Is this normal? Shouldn't it smell of petrol? (it is visibly clear, no smoke)

See picture attached.

Thanks everybody,

Pressurising the water system suggests to me head gasket failure. HGF doesnt have to mean water in the oil or vice versa.

Might be terminal on a car that age....

Norman_Castle

If the temperature is at 90 at city speeds then drops to 70 on faster roads its possible the car is over cooling due to the thermostat being stuck open.

forgotmyname

If its overcooling why is it chucking its coolant out?

Norman_Castle

forgotmyname wrote: »

If its overcooling why is it chucking its coolant out?

Overheating or pressurising the system? Sticking thermostat is possibly part of a bigger problem. Not sure if a failed thermostats would stick open at times causing over cooling but also stick closed sometimes causing over heating.

RickRastardly

How long does it take for the car to reach operating temperature? if its longer than it use to be then you may find that it is the Thermostat if there was nothing else going on, but you have a coolant leak which needs attention first.

parking_question_chap

OP, this is not meant as advice, but for you to read as little or as much into as you want. I only speak for the temperature guage, not any other issues the vehicle may have.

My car has been running below normal temperature for as long as I can remember, probably over five years. Like your car its in the latter stages of its life. I could plug it into a computer and have fault codes read, or go around paying people to change things until it holds 90 degrees. Up to you to decide if its worthwhile for a seventeen year old car.

If you do, I would suggest getting the thermostat changed first.