Coolant fluctuations??

[Asylum]

So it was really mild today, the roads were dry and I had to move the damn Quad 'cause I lost my storage and had to move it by the weekend anyway.
Hooked up the battery, it fired right up, no issues at all.
Went for about a 20 mile drive and I noticed the temp gauge was floating up and down from 1/4 to just over 1/2, up and down, up and down.
Didn't overheat, heater was on and blowing nice and warm.
Didn't open hood to look at anything. Parked it and it's gone now for another month at least.

THOUGHTS??

[DTMAce]

Check the coolant level. May be low. They can fluctuate if low from what I know.

Outside of that. Check for any leaks, bulges, etc. Could have a blockage, could be the thermostat too.

But I'm not the quad expert. lol

[Asylum]

No leak. Nothing on the ground in the garage I left.
But to be honest I didn't check anything other than hook up the battery and start it up.
Coolant may be low.
Ran fine, and had a nice drive,
I'll look further when I go back up and actually check levels.
Just seemed strange on this car.

[Koots]

Sounds like you got a sticking thermostat, which can happen after sitting for a while.

[Money pit Beretta]

I agree with Koots, thermostat problems. I had one go from 1/2 to 3/4 all in about a 10sec cycle at a stoplight.

[Asylum]

I agree with Koots, thermostat problems. I had one go from 1/2 to 3/4 all in about a 10sec cycle at a stoplight.

Ya that is what it was doing. Up and down continually while I was driving.
I'll have to swap it out when it comes out of the garage again.

[Koots]

If I have strange coolant issues, I usually jump straight for the thermostat anyway. I've had so many of them go bad, up here in the acrtic, that I don't even entertain the idea of testing them anymore.

Cuz it really sucks to be driving in -40* and colder without getting any heat at all or having the motor retardedly overheat.

[Money pit Beretta]

Yeah that was something that put fear into me. I knew it was a matter of time before it locked one way or the other. I got lucky and it made it to the weekend.
Sounds good Eric!

I don't know what is worse Koots. The fact that it gets ultra cold up there were you are at or down here where the range is -10-110F. Nothing like cranking up the heater at 100F to fight an overheat.

[Asylum]

OK so what thermostats fit a Quad?
I'd probably like a cooler one than stock as it only goes out in warm weather, BUT it is a California car so that may be a factor. (Had a California ECU that I swapped out for "Normal?" 1991 Quad unit)
Long story but Rodney and I figured it would be better without the restrictive California Emissions ECU.
Still have both for the car.
Thoughts??

[Koots]

Yeah that was something that put fear into me. I knew it was a matter of time before it locked one way or the other. I got lucky and it made it to the weekend.
Sounds good Eric!

I don't know what is worse Koots. The fact that it gets ultra cold up there were you are at or down here where the range is -10-110F. Nothing like cranking up the heater at 100F to fight an overheat.

Our average temperature is -20*C (-4*F) in winter to +20*C (68*F) in summer, but the low and high reaches from -50*C (-58*F) all the way up to +40*C (104*F)...those are 2 extremes that only happen a few days a year, but i've been in Texas in July and August and that's hot enough for me I'm half Eskimo and don't have the cooling system to handle that kind of stuff

[Money pit Beretta]

Eric it still should be a 195F. I ran a 185F in my 3.1 and it didn't change much. The needle was still sitting on the half mark, just not in the middle like it was. I had read that the stock could be rated at 195F and open at 210F or higher. So I thought that would be a good drop, but it looks like the stock one was almost dead on(or it wasn't stock). I thought the computer could handle a 185F and not need a tune like when you drop to 160F. That is why I tried it.
After that I started not to care and put a 195F in the 95 and one in the GF's 2.4 twin cam(both were bad). I read somewhere that the computer will try to get the engine back up to 195F if you put a lower stat in. After time it will give up. I just didn't like the idea of it doing that every time the battery is unpluged(if it really does).
Anyway the TC's stat was a Murray and it's sitting right were it should be on the gauge. No problems to date.
Useless info I guess. There is a guy on the Quad site that found a remote mount theromstat that he put on the upper hose. He was tired of getting under the car. I could ask him where he got it if you want.
Oh and another guy did some T stat size checking and found that a Duralast was bigger(ID) than the cheaper brand and was better than a high flow.
http://www.quad4forums.com/forums/showt ... 625&page=2

[Asylum]

Well now that you mention it it doea make sense the ECU will try to bring the engine up to the pre-set temp.
I'll look into getting a Durolast if I can find one, if not head up to the dealer and get a stock OEM/Delco one.
Thanx

[Money pit Beretta]

Koots I think you win on the widest spread.
I got one for you, this week:
Monday 76F
Tuesday 34F and snowing
Wednesday-Firday 20's with a low of 8F
That's the midwest for you.

[Money pit Beretta]

Whoa, never mind on the remote mount T stat. It will cause a problem with the coolant by-pass.

[Asylum]

Rock Auto only lists one. AC Delco, 195 degree. $5. and change plus $25.15 shipping to Canada. ROFL