Water temp is slightly over the half way mark when idling or slow traffic

[billyjuan]

Hello everyone,

I recently encounter a problem that has been bugging me for a a month or so. I have noticed my water temp goes little over half way mark and have no clue whats wrong. I replace the water temp sensor but still the same.

The needle goes up to this mark (see pic below) and stays there when idling or in slow traffic until i start moving and the temp gauge goes back to normal. So I don't know what the hell is going on. Anybody has encounter this issue before and fixed the problem? Let me know your thoughts?

P.S. Could it be because i live in San Fernando Valley CA and weather is always around 100?? but then again shouldn't it be always be dead center no matter what the condition is?

Thanks in advance :)

This is were my needle stays

Gotta love photoshop lol

[HotSauce]

The car is heating up as air is not passing over the radiator and displacing heat. What you're experiencing is entirely normal.

[billyjuan]

The car is heating up as air is not passing over the radiator and displacing heat. What you're experiencing is entirely normal.

That so true...... but my car didn't do it before and I have owned it for about 3 years now and never notice that before until like a month or 2 ago. Maybe i am just being paranoid but just wanna make sure

[HotSauce]

Every car does this. I have an aircooled Porsche that does this even more drastically. You can watch the oil temp climb as you sit in traffic.

[MacDaddy]

if your car never did this before, something has happened, like your eletric cooling fan(s) have failed, or perhaps the controller.

I would make sure the fans are working properly, does the passenger side one come on when you turn on the A/C? does the other one infront of the radiator turn on?

[Jayco88]

normal for me, I like to hose down the radiator and intercoolers whenever i get the chance.

[billyjuan]

if your car never did this before, something has happened, like your eletric cooling fan(s) have failed, or perhaps the controller.

I would make sure the fans are working properly, does the passenger side one come on when you turn on the A/C? does the other one infront of the radiator turn on?

Yeah I checked both fans with the A/C on and they turn on. My friend said that I just might have an air bubbles in the system or its time to do a coolant flush.

[quickaudi]

coolant flush can't hurt, but sitting in traffic at idle for long periods of time in high heat probably doesn't help the situation
you could try some water wetter or just use more water in your coolant mix

[JackalS4]

I vote sticking thermostat...but could also be air in the system or a fan not engaging etc. Make sure rad is clean and not blocked, and that you use factory-recommended coolant (should be G12) with correct water mix percentages.

In my opinion, it should never go above the halfway mark, mine never has and has seen some pretty hot, slow traffic days.

Good luck.

[MacDaddy]

skip the water wetter, just use one or two drops of dish soap, it achieves the same result of removing surface tension from the water. if you compare before and after with Vag com or a OBD scan tool you should notice a few degrees difference (centigrade)

if you do flush I recommend using a flushing additive, and take it for a drive to really get it through the system, I notice i have a build up of crystals of some sort on the coolant lines to my turbos.

[quickaudi]

In my opinion, it should never go above the halfway mark, mine never has and has seen some pretty hot, slow traffic days.

Ontario /= hot

sorry buddy

[billyjuan]

I actually added some coolant because the whole reservoir empty out when i replace the temp sensor (I bought a bottle of g12 and mixed it 50/50). I started the car and revved the engine a couple times with the cap off and squeeze the hose leading back to reservoir to remove any air pockets but i don't know if that worked. Anyone know the procedure of how to remove the air pockets from the coolant system ??

Hopefully i can get this thing fix soon because it been bothering me and its my daily driver ill also will put 2 drops of soap hopefully that makes a difference

[JackalS4]

Ontario /= hot

sorry buddy

Yeah but we've had some hot stretch of days where it's 35C (95F) and humidity ("feels like") rated at 45C (113F)! You might be surprised, Canada's weather is whack!

But hey, dunno, just trying to help.

As I recall as well, you can use a slightly stronger ratio (more coolant) if your climate is extreme.

[quickaudi]

well, you'd actually want more water, as water dissipates heat quicker and more efficiently than coolant

[JackalS4]

well, you'd actually want more water, as water dissipates heat quicker and more efficiently than coolant

As long as you don't cross the line where your coolant is too watered down for the temps in your area.

[billyjuan]

Alright i did some searching on how to remove air bubbles of the coolant system and a found a post were a guy said to leave the cap off until car gets to temp fill it to level if it needs coolant, cap it then drive around. I did it and nothing, I even added 2 or 3 drops of soap and no difference what so ever. I also stop and turn a/c at full blast and the gauge didn't move from that spot. So i have no clue what else i cant do

[jasonsrt4]

You more than likley have a weak fan clutch. I was having the exact same problem. When the car would get warm I could slow down the belt driven fan with my hand and it had virtually no resistance. I installed a new one which the dealer had in stock,( a good sign) and it never goes over halfway anymore.

[Fast Euro]

Either air in your system or bad fan clutch. I had this when I first got my car and it went away after a fan clutch replacement and coolant flush.

[IamEzraM]

water also boils at a lower temp so you really don't want too add much more than 60/40 water/g12