how long does it take for the engine to get to normal operating temperature? I ask as since winter started it takes 20 minutes for the temp gauge to be in the middle?

 

Thanks for the advice!

the ambient temperatures in the winter will make a difference because colder block to start with and cooling with colder air but 20 mins sounds like a long time! Are you idling for all that period?

Mine gets to the mid point in about 5 mins and stat fully opens and rad reaches stable temp afater about 10-15mins depending how long i can stand with out putting the heaters on!

That was with an ambient temp of 4°C this morning and below 30mph for first 10 mins.

no mate, that is with normal driving and stop starting.

dont know what would explain that then. is it colder conditions up there? sub zero? Some people might suggest a lazy temp sender to the gauge. I guess you can test that out by getting out of the car after 10 mins while the gauge still on cold and touching the top pipe to see if it is warming up. You can get new sensors from MJP and very easy to change.

 

You may just have a super efficient engine!

Super Efficient Engine would be nice!! But doubtful! lol

20 minutes is too long...depending on the ambient temps it should take 10 minutes or so, but the standard temp. gauge is pretty useless.

 

best way to see if your car really has "warming up" problems is by monitoring the temp with an accurate gauge or with conzult.

operating temp is between 80 and 90 Celcius....anything below that temperature and the ECU still dumps extra fuel in.

 

if it turns out you do have a delay in the warming up of the engine, the usual culprit is a faulty thermostat

can this cause any major issues? anyone got a consult in notts?

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=99968&highlight=conzult+list

As Lymon has stated the factory gauges are old and worn, but they were never that accurate any way. So it maybe a good idea to invest in a good defi gauge or even a tim electric gauge. I would say though that it sounds like a goosed thermostate. Which means you'll be thowing fuel down the barrels for fun. Which is both costly and causes bore washing and rapid ring ware.

 

Start the car up and put your hand on the bottom hose (mind your fingers on the fan). If it starts to get luke warm after a minute or two your thermostate is knackered as it should stay shut until the car reaches 84 C and the thermostate opens allow hot water out to the rad.

 

So in theory it should stay cold for about 5 to 10 minutes and then get hot very quickly not luke warm and slowly heating up.

Can anyone help me get a new thermostat? And is it easy to fit? A how to would be good.

 

Thanks

The gauge is reading water temp, the actual engine really takes 40 miles to get to proper running temp and you can feel the difference too!

Can anyone help me get a new thermostat? And is it easy to fit? A how to would be good.

 

Thanks

you can get a new stat from any jap spares or most motor factors. MJP does them too. you could even try nissan if your desperate but it should cost much more than a tenner.

Here is a how to:

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/60ktech.html

obviously you dont need to read all of it but the basics are:

- empty rad

- remove fan and shroud to make room

- remove rad

- remove lower rubber rad hose

- remove lower hard pipe to block

- stat will be there

- test stat in pan with thermometer

- put everything back and use gasket sealent on all the joints.

 

hope this helps

 

markzx's post about a knackered stat sounds very likely but test using the method he suggests before ripping everything apart.

you can get a new stat from any jap spares or most motor factors. MJP does them too. you could even try nissan if your desperate but it should cost much more than a tenner.

Here is a how to:

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/60ktech.html

obviously you dont need to read all of it but the basics are:

- empty rad

- remove fan and shroud to make room

- remove rad

- remove lower rubber rad hose

- remove lower hard pipe to block

- stat will be there

- test stat in pan with thermometer

- put everything back and use gasket sealent on all the joints.

 

hope this helps

 

markzx's post about a knackered stat sounds very likely but test using the method he suggests before ripping everything apart.

 

Bugger! I'm not competent enough to do all that! Anyone in Notts who can help?

it is really not that tricky. doesnt take long, dont need special tools and dont need to jack up the car.

How do I do it without jacking car up?

just reach in and do everything from the engine back. on second thoughts you might need to jack to get to the radiator drain but i am pretty sure i didnt when i changed mine so you must be able to reach down there when the fan and shroud are removed.

Just spoke to Ceejay and he has a brand new Nissan OEM one, picking up tomorrow. Anyone in Notts who can help me fit on Saturday or Sunday?

 

Thanks!

Also, when done, how much coolant and watre do I put back in the Rad??

50:50 mix. fill rad to the top whilst air release on other side of rad open. keep an eye on coolant level in rad and expansion bottle incase of trapped air.

top up rad whilst parked on an incline with engine running to get rid of all trapped air.

50:50 mix. fill rad to the top whilst air release on other side of rad open. keep an eye on coolant level in rad and expansion bottle incase of trapped air.

top up rad whilst parked on an incline with engine running to get rid of all trapped air.

 

In my 1994 owners manual for my Blue TT it states that the mixture should be 70% glycol to 30% water. i think this is more to do with summer cooling than with winter anti freezing as that amount of Glycol raises the boiling temp to 160c and stops it vapourising in the turbo gallaries. Loads of people do just use 50/50 mix but if you drive hard I'd go for 70/30 mix.

sounds like your stat is leaking or stuck open if its taking that long

 

my water is up to temp in 5min, but oil takes about 15 - 20min

In my 1994 owners manual for my Blue TT it states that the mixture should be 70% glycol to 30% water. i think this is more to do with summer cooling than with winter anti freezing as that amount of Glycol raises the boiling temp to 160c and stops it vapourising in the turbo gallaries. Loads of people do just use 50/50 mix but if you drive hard I'd go for 70/30 mix.

 

 

lots of debate about this. basically you are safe with 50:50 even if the manual says more because modern antifreezes are more advanced than they were 10 years ago so they will protect from corrosion and freezing temps. You can get a measuring device from halfords for a couple of quid that measures the specific gravity (density) of your coolant to make sure that is enough protection.

 

there is only one fluid that is a better heat transfer medium than water and that is liquid mercury. Not very feasible. So any capacity in your cooling system that is something other than water is reducing the effectiveness. However, it is true adding some substances can aid cooling. Water wetter works like a surfactent (like washing up liquid and the mucas lining of your lungs) and reduces the the surface tension of the water to stops bubbles froming so easily. If bubbles form on the hot parts of your coolant system that you trying to remove heat from it acts like an insulating blanket and the heat transfer efficiency goes down.

 

Alcohols (like glycol) have a thermodynamical relationship with water by mixing in a way that reduces the overall volumes. This means you can have more particles taking away the heat but in a smaller volume (the fixed volume of the coolant system). However the reduction in volume isnt greatly significant and will be maximised only if the stoichmetrically correct not the more is better approach.

 

With this in mind i go for 50:50 with a bottle of Water Wetter thrown in.

i'd allow a weekend to do it first time :) and you may as well replace the water pump as well whilst its off,

 

you will need a pulley puller to get the crank pulley off, may as well replace that with a lightened one seeing as you've gone to the bother of getting that far, (read up on that first)

 

you'll be going to step 21 and back

 

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/60ktech.html

Can anyone help me get a new thermostat? And is it easy to fit? A how to would be good.

 

Thanks

hi phone these numbers one's in notts 01159676356 his name is luke,, the other is in tamworth his name jamie 01827 259222 hope this helps

hi phone these numbers one's in notts 01159676356 his name is luke,, the other is in tamworth his name jamie 01827 259222 hope this helps

 

Thanks for the numbers mate! Got the parts now, collecting tomorrow from Ceejay, just need help fitting them!