Mine is a 93 3.8L with 81K miles. I am the second owner (bought it
with 23K on it). So far no major engine/tranny problems; oil/filter
change every 3K, tranny fluid/filter every 30K. By the posts I've been
reading it seems like I might be on borrowed time.
1. I now have a small coolant leak at the timing chain case. Right now
(according to the tech), it appears to be an external leak only. Very
small leak (add a bit of coolant every couple months). My
question...should I be concerned, given the nature of this engine?
2. Temp Gauge Question. When driving in stop/go traffic, the engine
heats up enough for the fan to run. It comes on when the temp gauge is
at about the "A" in "NORMAL" and the fan runs until the gauge is down
to between the R and the M. On the highway it typically runs between
the O and the R. Is this amount of fluctuation common? The car has
never overheated, but wanted to know if other 3.8L owners experience a
similar range. Given the problems with this engine, would a thermostat
opening at lower temperature make sense?
TIA,
Roger
> 2. Temp Gauge Question. When driving in stop/go traffic, the engine
> heats up enough for the fan to run. It comes on when the temp gauge is
> at about the "A" in "NORMAL" and the fan runs until the gauge is down
> to between the R and the M. On the highway it typically runs between
> the O and the R. Is this amount of fluctuation common? The car has
> never overheated, but wanted to know if other 3.8L owners experience a
> similar range. Given the problems with this engine, would a thermostat
> opening at lower temperature make sense?
This seems normal. Don't install a lower temp thermostat, the OE (original equipment) is
designed to keep your engine running at the proper temp. If you have an overheating
problem like a plugged radiator, fix that that problem. Thermostats do go bad (stuck
closed, open, in-between, etc.), so it is proper to change them every few years, or when
they fail (diagnosis can be tough).
John
--
imc...@imcool.com
Learn about automotive coolants and refrigerants at:
http://www.imcool.com/
"John Hess" <imc...@imcool.com> wrote in message
news:bZac7.41590$Kd7.25...@news1.rdc1.sfba.home.com...
> "Rog" <grind...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> Is the coolant leaking "from" the timing chain case, or near it? What
Good luck...
--
"Rog" <grind...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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