Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been there.


The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin white
line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to settle.
The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white line I
mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!

If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the thin
white line at about 1/4 again.

Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C) to
the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
temp.

All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And still,
very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.

Any ideas?

 

I am having almost the same problem with my 97 A6. I have replaced the
thermostat 3 times. The coolant temp is the same as yours but my oil temp is
where it is supposed to be. I was told by one garage that the previous
owner had used an additive to seal up a leak in the system and now the whole
thing is clogged and needs to be replaced(about $700). I haven't gotten a
second opinion on it yet, though.
"Gene Buckwalter" <spam_pit@adelphia.net> wrote in message
newsqednTOwjYSTS1XcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
>
> Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been there.
>
>
> The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin
white
> line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to
settle.
> The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white line
I
> mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
>
> If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the
thin
> white line at about 1/4 again.
>
> Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C) to
> the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> temp.
>
> All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And
still,
> very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

 

I am having almost the same problem with my 97 A6. I have replaced the
thermostat 3 times. The coolant temp is the same as yours but my oil temp is
where it is supposed to be. I was told by one garage that the previous
owner had used an additive to seal up a leak in the system and now the whole
thing is clogged and needs to be replaced(about $700). I haven't gotten a
second opinion on it yet, though.
"Gene Buckwalter" <spam_pit@adelphia.net> wrote in message
newsqednTOwjYSTS1XcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
>
> Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been there.
>
>
> The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin
white
> line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to
settle.
> The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white line
I
> mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
>
> If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the
thin
> white line at about 1/4 again.
>
> Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C) to
> the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> temp.
>
> All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And
still,
> very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

 

I am having almost the same problem with my 97 A6. I have replaced the
thermostat 3 times. The coolant temp is the same as yours but my oil temp is
where it is supposed to be. I was told by one garage that the previous
owner had used an additive to seal up a leak in the system and now the whole
thing is clogged and needs to be replaced(about $700). I haven't gotten a
second opinion on it yet, though.
"Gene Buckwalter" <spam_pit@adelphia.net> wrote in message
newsqednTOwjYSTS1XcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
>
> Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been there.
>
>
> The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin
white
> line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to
settle.
> The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white line
I
> mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
>
> If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the
thin
> white line at about 1/4 again.
>
> Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C) to
> the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> temp.
>
> All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And
still,
> very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

 

What did they say needed to be replaced? Radiator? Heater core?

Gene


"Archangel" <archangel6675@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:%_5yd.7466$fe5.6612@trndny06...
> I am having almost the same problem with my 97 A6. I have replaced the
> thermostat 3 times. The coolant temp is the same as yours but my oil temp
is
> where it is supposed to be. I was told by one garage that the previous
> owner had used an additive to seal up a leak in the system and now the
whole
> thing is clogged and needs to be replaced(about $700). I haven't gotten a
> second opinion on it yet, though.
> "Gene Buckwalter" <spam_pit@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> newsqednTOwjYSTS1XcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
> >
> > Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been
there.
> >
> >
> > The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin
> white
> > line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> > just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to
> settle.
> > The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> > or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> > farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> > as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> > outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> > sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white
line
> I
> > mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> > temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
> >
> > If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the
> thin
> > white line at about 1/4 again.
> >
> > Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C)
to
> > the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> > an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> > temp.
> >
> > All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> > temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> > failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And
> still,
> > very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> > There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> >
>
>

 

What did they say needed to be replaced? Radiator? Heater core?

Gene


"Archangel" <archangel6675@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:%_5yd.7466$fe5.6612@trndny06...
> I am having almost the same problem with my 97 A6. I have replaced the
> thermostat 3 times. The coolant temp is the same as yours but my oil temp
is
> where it is supposed to be. I was told by one garage that the previous
> owner had used an additive to seal up a leak in the system and now the
whole
> thing is clogged and needs to be replaced(about $700). I haven't gotten a
> second opinion on it yet, though.
> "Gene Buckwalter" <spam_pit@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> newsqednTOwjYSTS1XcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
> >
> > Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been
there.
> >
> >
> > The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin
> white
> > line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> > just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to
> settle.
> > The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> > or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> > farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> > as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> > outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> > sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white
line
> I
> > mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> > temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
> >
> > If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the
> thin
> > white line at about 1/4 again.
> >
> > Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C)
to
> > the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> > an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> > temp.
> >
> > All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> > temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> > failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And
> still,
> > very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> > There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> >
>
>

 

What did they say needed to be replaced? Radiator? Heater core?

Gene


"Archangel" <archangel6675@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:%_5yd.7466$fe5.6612@trndny06...
> I am having almost the same problem with my 97 A6. I have replaced the
> thermostat 3 times. The coolant temp is the same as yours but my oil temp
is
> where it is supposed to be. I was told by one garage that the previous
> owner had used an additive to seal up a leak in the system and now the
whole
> thing is clogged and needs to be replaced(about $700). I haven't gotten a
> second opinion on it yet, though.
> "Gene Buckwalter" <spam_pit@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> newsqednTOwjYSTS1XcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
> >
> > Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been
there.
> >
> >
> > The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin
> white
> > line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> > just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to
> settle.
> > The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> > or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> > farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> > as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> > outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> > sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white
line
> I
> > mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> > temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
> >
> > If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the
> thin
> > white line at about 1/4 again.
> >
> > Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C)
to
> > the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> > an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> > temp.
> >
> > All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> > temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> > failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And
> still,
> > very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> > There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> >
>
>

 

It sounds like your diagnosis is correct - the engine is not getting up to
temperature. The way the radiator fan works sounds correct when you let it idle
to get it warm.

Th only thing that strikes me is that it might be possible to install the T stat
upside down so that it opens too easily or maybe a gasket to seal it into place
is missing.

Tony

Gene Buckwalter wrote:

> Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been there.
>
>
> The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin white
> line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to settle.
> The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white line I
> mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
>
> If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the thin
> white line at about 1/4 again.
>
> Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C) to
> the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> temp.
>
> All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And still,
> very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

 

It sounds like your diagnosis is correct - the engine is not getting up to
temperature. The way the radiator fan works sounds correct when you let it idle
to get it warm.

Th only thing that strikes me is that it might be possible to install the T stat
upside down so that it opens too easily or maybe a gasket to seal it into place
is missing.

Tony

Gene Buckwalter wrote:

> Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been there.
>
>
> The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin white
> line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to settle.
> The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white line I
> mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
>
> If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the thin
> white line at about 1/4 again.
>
> Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C) to
> the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> temp.
>
> All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And still,
> very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

 

It sounds like your diagnosis is correct - the engine is not getting up to
temperature. The way the radiator fan works sounds correct when you let it idle
to get it warm.

Th only thing that strikes me is that it might be possible to install the T stat
upside down so that it opens too easily or maybe a gasket to seal it into place
is missing.

Tony

Gene Buckwalter wrote:

> Ok, before you all say that I need a new thermostat, I've been there.
>
>
> The engine temperature guage seems to regulate to the first, thin white
> line at about 1/4 on the guage. There is a thick white line
> just below half way up the guage where I would expect the needle to settle.
> The needle only gets there on warm days in the summer
> or if I let the car idle stopped for some long period of time. Somewhat
> farther up the guage(just above half guage) the fans turn on,
> as I would expect also. The heater blows very slightly warm air if the
> outside temp is below, say, 45 degrees.... unless I let the car
> sit idling long enough to get the gauge up to or past the thick white line I
> mentioned before. Then the heat seems to work fine. If the outside
> temp is below 40 or so, the "Heat" makes my feed cold!
>
> If I'm moving, even at slow speeds, the gauge settles back the the thin
> white line at about 1/4 again.
>
> Also, the oil temp only just comes off the cold mark (60degrees C) to
> the first white mark at about 1/6 the guage. The engine has
> an oil cooler so I wouldn't expect the oil to get much above the coolant
> temp.
>
> All indications are that the engine is not getting to full operating
> temperature. I've replaced the thermostat twice, once because it really
> failed. I've installed the 97 degree C thermostat, not the 87. And still,
> very low heater output, and the needle stays at about 1/4 on the gauge.
> There is no indication on the gauge as to what the temperature value is.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>