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South of France...

Just motored down to near Toulouse - lovely weather, lovely cottage, lovely drive, lovely family etc etc. Anyway, that's not the purpose of this.

Question is, what's too hot?

I had noticed last week that my S type wasn't coping too well with a 90+ mph motorway thrash in the recent warm weather at home - the temp gauge started to read slightly over 70 deg but backing off slightly soon brought it back under 70 deg. Bit of examination later and I found the timing slightly advanced so I corrected that.

However, the weather here is much warmer than at home - 37 deg and the hills steeper. I found on the A20 motorway I had to keep the speed down to around 60 mph to keep the temp down.

Even then on the climbs in the afternoon (seriously hot) the temp crept up to 85 deg for most of the afternoon - however the needle never went over the 90 mark although it got close on occasion.

The additional electric Kenlowe fan (it retains its mechanical fan) is set to run with the ignition off and the the heat soak effect didn't take it past 90 - I checked out of curiosity.

The enforced slow speed did return an astonishing 27 mpg with a loaded car (and 26 on the second fill up!).

Back to the original question - what's too hot? I think 90 is getting there but am not 100% sure.

Hello Simon,

it depends on what thermostat you have installed, I don't know the correct specification off hand, but the quoted temperature on the thermostat is the opening temperature, with fully open typically ten degrees higher. So if your running temperature is constantly ten degrees or above the thermostat temperature you have no margin left.
Bear in mind your temperature gauge may not be 100% accurate?

Alec

Hi Simon

Living down that way I know what you mean. I don't think you have anything wrong with your car its just the higher ambient temp, plus your probably doing longer runs than you be doing in the UK. Your electric fan running once you have stopped to take away the heat soak should prevent the thermostat from getting cooked and possible going duff.
Only thing I can suggest is to see if you can get some "water wetter" to add to your system and see if it will help dissapate the heat better (I have no experiance of it).

A few people in the UK think I'm over the top with the way I have my car set-up, but when your in these higher temps and long hill climbs or caught up in heavy traffic it works for me that keeps me happy and running.

At least your adjusting your speed to cope with the temp, keep an eye on it and bring it home in one piece.