Quote:
Originally Posted by SD1too
There isn't a single optimal running temperature for any car engine. It will vary depending upon engine load, road speed and ambient temperature. The lower limit is determined by the thermostat and the upper by the radiator fan. In the case of your KV6 the thermostat will begin to open somewhere between 86 and 90 degrees C. According to the data it will permit full flow at 96 degrees C. As you already know, your radiator fan triggers at 100 degrees C.
So, provided your engine is running between those two limits you should not be concerned. If you monitor the coolant temperature using the instrument pack diagnostics you will probably find that, when on the move, the temperature is in the low nineties. If the car is then brought to a standstill, the 'ram effect' of cooler ambient air is lost and so the coolant temperature actually rises. When it reaches 100 degrees, the fan triggers to lower it to 96 degrees.
I'd therefore conclude that MG Rover expects the KV6 to operate within a temperature range of about 90 to 96 degrees, but short term excursions to 100 degrees are permissible. It's important to remember that variation is normal and always has been. That's why motor manufacturers design the temperature gauge to show a stable reading so that owners won't worry unnecessarily.
Does that help?
Simon  |
Thank you very much for your kind explanation Simon. Then makes sense why MG Rover made the fan to kick in at 100º.
Can't wait for this weekend to do the bleeding by the book as mentioned. I didn't realize how easy is to get airlock in the coolant system of the V6. I've done many coolant bleedings in my 1.4 K series and never got airlock.