steve2309

Hi all,

I have a '97 A4 2.8 quattro which takes 15 mins to get to 'normal' operating temperature (high-noon: 90 degress C) at average speeds of 45mph in the summer (average morning outdoor temp of 17-18 degrees C).

This morning, being Autumn, the outside temp was 5-7 degrees C & it took about 20 mins to warm up. Naturally with it being pretty cold I needed to get some heating on, so I decided to be mechanically sympathetic & wait for the engine temp to get up to normal & then put the climate control on at 22 degrees C (the Audi recommendation). I was then alarmed to see the temperature needle rapidly drop right down to 60-70 degrees C!

Is this car just over-efficient at keeping cool with that big old radiator up front or do you think there's a problem here?

RKA

problem

4Driver4

Second - change the t-stat.

steve2309

That's a rotten job right?

Kris Hansen

not really. But, it's a great time to change your waterpump/timing belt/etc.

Tourette(AFC2.812v)

i had that problem did an efk and helped alot. but still your thermostst is stuck open so all the water is just passing thru

Kris Hansen

Excually, with a properly functioning thermostat, that shouldn't matter.

steve2309

Groan...trip to the garage then - I'm not up to the job!

steve2309

Just checked and you're right, it doesn't spin freely with the engine off and as soon as you start up it's whizzing round all the time. Although as RKA says it shouldn't really make a difference if the thermostat is functioning correctly right? If thermostat was closed as it should be when cold then there's no water circulating for the fan to cool down prematurely. Did I get that right?