Engine temperarture pass 180 F problem solved

[flaps10]

People seem confused when they put in a 160 thermostat and the car doesn't run cooler. I guess the visual is that the radiator system had infinite cooling capacity and that lowering the thermostat opening temp would lower the running temperature.

Not the case at all. Do a search and you'll see that the back sides of the radiators get clogged with road debris. If they are plugged up then it wouldn't matter if you ran with no thermostat at all.

I just replaced my oil cooler and it is the larger style like in the picture in this thread. I would suggest that you NEVER buy a used oil cooler. Most of the time a used oil cooler came from a failed engine. One look up inside and you'll see lots of places for metal debris to hide, waiting to score up the inside of your engine - the very reason i chose to replace mine.

[Pdwight]

It will actually run hotter...the water needs to be slowed down by the thermostat to have time to cool down in the radiators

[CrisZenithBlue]

Originally Posted by flaps10

People seem confused when they put in a 160 thermostat and the car doesn't run cooler. I guess the visual is that the radiator system had infinite cooling capacity and that lowering the thermostat opening temp would lower the running temperature.

Not the case at all. Do a search and you'll see that the back sides of the radiators get clogged with road debris. If they are plugged up then it wouldn't matter if you ran with no thermostat at all.

I just replaced my oil cooler and it is the larger style like in the picture in this thread. I would suggest that you NEVER buy a used oil cooler. Most of the time a used oil cooler came from a failed engine. One look up inside and you'll see lots of places for metal debris to hide, waiting to score up the inside of your engine - the very reason i chose to replace mine.

Did the bigger oil cooler make any difference temperature wise?

[flaps10]

Originally Posted by CrisZenithBlue

Did the bigger oil cooler make any difference temperature wise?

Too many variables to tell for sure since I just went through a complete tear down, but yesterday I spent two hours in complete crap traffic in what amounts to a heat wave in the PNW. Since the engine is unproven I was paranoid and fixated in any indications that things weren't going as well add I hoped.

My fears were unfounded. Temp went back and forth between the 8 and 0 depending on how much I was sitting idle.

[CrisZenithBlue]

i'm gonna go ahead and get a NEW bigger S oil cooler as a start (thanks flaps10 for the tip!)

found one on pelican made by BEHR for $168.50 and the Porsche OEM one for $342.50.

part number 996-107-025-59.

a few questions before i go ahead and buy it:
this will fit my 2000 2.7 right?
any reason why i should spend more on the Porsche one? price difference is considerable.
what else should i be buying with it? i see two different sets of O rings (4 in total). is that right?
anything else?

thanks!

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by CrisZenithBlue

i'm gonna go ahead and get a NEW bigger S oil cooler as a start (thanks flaps10 for the tip!)

found one on pelican made by BEHR for $168.50 and the Porsche OEM one for $342.50.

part number 996-107-025-59.

a few questions before i go ahead and buy it:
this will fit my 2000 2.7 right?
any reason why i should spend more on the Porsche one? price difference is considerable.
what else should i be buying with it? i see two different sets of O rings (4 in total). is that right?
anything else?

thanks!

We have never used anything but the factory part (996-107-025-59), so I cannot speak for the other unit. The factory unit usually retails for about $260.

It will fit your 2.7.

There are four O-rings in two different sizes, and they should never be reused.

[Gelbster]

Possible cooling problem & suspect calibration of the dashboard instruments.
Has anyone had success using a Scangauge or Ultragauge as a way of verifying the accuracy of the dash instruments? Yes, I know theses aftermarket gauges just read the same sensors that the OEM dash gauges read but perhaps they are more accurate.
I ask because some Forum members have spent much $$ and time chasing non-existent coolant temperature issues.

[CrisZenithBlue]

what about connecting the OBD2 tool which will read the exact engine data to rule out any gauge fault?

[j.fro]

I use the app Dash Command pretty often to see what's going on with water temps and a few other things. For both my 986 and 996, the line at 180 is 180 degrees; straight up is around 200, and the right edge of the "0" is 220. I'll get the right edge/220 on a hot day in traffic, and as soon as I'm moving 35+ for a bit, the temp drops back down to 190-200.
Both cars have the 160 T-stat, new water pumps, and the larger water/oil cooler. 986 has a center radiator, 996 does not.

[CrisZenithBlue]

Originally Posted by j.fro

I use the app Dash Command pretty often to see what's going on with water temps and a few other things. For both my 986 and 996, the line at 180 is 180 degrees; straight up is around 200, and the right edge of the "0" is 220. I'll get the right edge/220 on a hot day in traffic, and as soon as I'm moving 35+ for a bit, the temp drops back down to 190-200.
Both cars have the 160 T-stat, new water pumps, and the larger water/oil cooler. 986 has a center radiator, 996 does not.

thanks a lot for these details they really help paint the picture and put my mind at ease as i'm getting the same temperatures (and sounds like your setup is even better than mine for the 986, i'm all stock with no center radiator) so its not out of the ordinary. i was about to drop quite a bit of money into it to try and sort it but i think i'll let it be until the next coolant change when i will upgrade to a better water pump.

still thinking about upgrading to a bigger oil cooler as that is a cheap easy improvement.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by j.fro

I use the app Dash Command pretty often to see what's going on with water temps and a few other things. For both my 986 and 996, the line at 180 is 180 degrees; straight up is around 200, and the right edge of the "0" is 220. I'll get the right edge/220 on a hot day in traffic, and as soon as I'm moving 35+ for a bit, the temp drops back down to 190-200.
Both cars have the 160 T-stat, new water pumps, and the larger water/oil cooler. 986 has a center radiator, 996 does not.

Which OBD BT are you using for the Boxster?