Am I worrying needlessly about engine temp?

[kk2002s]

Normal for stop and go
Get a phone app with bluetooth ODBII sender
You can get better temp data how it relates to gauge. You also see temps the fans come on the drive speeds where temps start to go down

[tone40]

Sounds counter productive, but it turns on the radiator cooling fan. I do that all the time when I drive in stop and go traffic. It works.

[Meir]

Originally Posted by tone40

Sounds counter productive, but it turns on the radiator cooling fan. I do that all the time when I drive in stop and go traffic. It works.

not only it turns the fans on, it turns it on the high speed.

[Boxstard]

Originally Posted by Meir

not only it turns the fans on, it turns it on the high speed.

AC turns the fan on at low speed. I added a 3-position toggle switch to manually control the fan at low or high speed without AC. With the low temp thermosta and proactive cooling fan at my finger tip, I can keep the temp at indicated 180F or slightly below for most of driving cond. When I let it past '0' then flip the fan at high speed, it comes down to 180F in 3-4 minutes.

[Saurkrt]

New Boxster (and Porsche) owner here, about a month with my 987.1 BS.

I have been surprised how cool it runs. I have gotten used to modern cars running at 200+ °F (for "efficiency"). So to see the temp gauge at 175 or so is quite a shock.

I would not be in the least bit worried with any engine running at 180-200. For an everyday vehicle. run "normally" or even "spiritedly", unless you're seeing well over 200°F under "typical" (under 100° ambient and "just driving") conditions, I wouldn't bee the slightest bit concerned.

OTOH, if you have had the car for 10 years, are very well aware of the historical "behavior" of the engine, and are seeing statistically different readings, that's a whole 'nother story.

[Boxstard]

Originally Posted by Saurkrt

New Boxster (and Porsche) owner here, about a month with my 987.1 BS.

I have been surprised how cool it runs. I have gotten used to modern cars running at 200+ °F (for "efficiency"). So to see the temp gauge at 175 or so is quite a shock.

I would not be in the least bit worried with any engine running at 180-200. For an everyday vehicle. run "normally" or even "spiritedly", unless you're seeing well over 200°F under "typical" (under 100° ambient and "just driving") conditions, I wouldn't bee the slightest bit concerned.

OTOH, if you have had the car for 10 years, are very well aware of the historical "behavior" of the engine, and are seeing statistically different readings, that's a whole 'nother story.

Coolant temp sensor is located right where the fluid returns from radiators, so it is basically the coolest point and coolant would be a lot hotter at head or oil cooler... This is why people pays special attention to be safe.

[kk2002s]

By putting power to it does that mean jumping relay?
Turning AC on will telll you if low speed operation is working

[kirkandorules]

Originally Posted by tone40

Sounds counter productive, but it turns on the radiator cooling fan. I do that all the time when I drive in stop and go traffic. It works.

I've done this too. My car sits on the rightmost edge of the 0 in 180 in hot weather in heavy traffic, but will go down if I turn on the AC.

The low temp thermostat is a good idea IMO (haven't done it yet myself), but I suspect it won't help lower your coolant temps - just delay the system's reaching max temperature. I actually noticed my temperatures go down a bit after cleaning my radiators. 3rd radiator is probably the best permanent fix, if you think it's a problem to begin with.

[sfkjeld]

Geez, dont know why it hadn’t dawned on me early. Just turn on the AC. And as many pointed out here, the low temp thermostat doesn’t really add to the cooling capacity. Just begins the process a little earlier. Am thinking now that the S oil cooler is the first order of business. That should add cooling and not as expensive as the 3rd radiator.