Too hot to handle, maybe....

[mark-ashley]

How hot should the water temp in an unmodified FD3S be ?
 
I have an aftermarket temp gauge, made by woosh i beleive and when in traffic, it regularly hits 100 degrees, never goes over, just sits at 100 degrees..
 
Soon as i get some air going through the car the temp drops, soon as i stand still again in traffic it slowly rises...
 
Is this normal ?
 
I know they run hot but i don\'t think it should be right on the limit when in traffic

[chrisJDM]

mine when near standard with apexi power fc and commander use to go up to around 90 in traffic but never as high as 100 you are probably verging on dangerous teritory there, the stock radiators are pretty crap could be your issue

[Lil-Steve]

You might also want to look at a different front bumper perhaps a 99 spec as the area of the exposed to direct airflow was increased by about double IIRC.
 
As a matter of interest what does your stock gauge show?

[mark-ashley]

I think the bumper is just fine to be honest, bottom of this thread shows my car...
 
http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51615
 
Stock gauge sits at 9 o\'clock, never moves...
 
Spoke to Clive and his diagnosis is radiator, i\'m not getting any water leak so it looks like a circulation problem..
 
Thanks for your thoughts tho, always good to have a number of opinions !

[mark-ashley]

Incidentally Steve, my car came from you guys....

[Lil-Steve]

Snap mine too!
 
Could be that the raditaor is furred up, so you aren\'t getting the heat transfer rates you would usually get. It might also be worth replacing the thermostat as it\'s cheap and relativly easy to do.
 
Steve

[shaunwil]

Never take any notice of the stock coolant gauge. If it goes past 9 o\'clock its toast ! Not a linear gauge.

Good chance the thermostat is dud.

Shaun

[jowell16]

alryte mate, my car use to be exactly the same, the temperature use to get to 103 before the fans kicked in, on a standard ecu this is the temperature in which it is design to, i always thought it was alittle high, so i fitted a switch that tapped into the relays allowing me to turn the fans on when it gets to hot(there is a link on google showing you how). then i bought an apexi ecu, and had them set the fans to kick in at 87, and ive neva seen anythin highier than that since. what sort of mocifications have you got?

[mark-ashley]

I don\'t really have any mods to be honest, replaced the stock air filter for a K&N and put a bailey dump valve on, Kakimoto exhaust and that\'s it engine wise.....
 
I\'m taking it down to the garage on Saturday to drain the system, recharge it and check for leaks and be sure their aren\'t any airlocks...
 
If that doesn\'t resolve the issue then i think i\'ll be looking at a new rad, will deffo check out the thermostat and give that link a look on google a look...
 
The temp is fine once the car is moving as obviously it is being cooled by air but living in London, sitting in traffic is mandatory so i don\'t really want the engine cooking while i\'m at a standstill !!!
 
Thank you all for you advice and suggestions, it\'s very much appreciated and once i have it sorted i\'ll let you know what caused it !