slight overheating

[endorfin]

The fuel temperature gauge on my 2.5 goes slightly over halfway when worked hard, driven uphill or at high speeds for prolonged periods.

95% of the time it stays bang on halfway but if worked hard it will go slightly over but never more than one notch past halfway mark.

Once, only once though while I was driving it fast & hard the stop light came on and the display came up with a "high water pressure, slow down" message! Which was rather worrying. I pulled over to the hard shoulder switched off. Checked water levels they were fine. Started it again after a short while & all was ok, drove it back home at a slower speed (70-80mph, don't ask what I was doing before!)

It doesn't lose water.

I've since flushed radiator out, used a radiator flush, flushed again & put coolant and water in but still goes slightly past halfway mark.

Am I worrying unncessarily or is this a sign of an impeding problem? The engine sounds lovely, plenty of power.

[xmexclusive]

Hi Endorfin

The 2.5 behaviour you describe is normal.
Temperature rise with heavy working is a known feature.
Caravans and very long upgrades with high outside temperatures can cause the temperature to get near or into the red zone.
The ECU has protection routines. First it cuts the aircon (if fitted) to reduce load then in the extreme it will select limp mode to prevent damage.
All of this ONLY applies to a car in good order without coolant loss.

John

[endorfin]

OK thats reassured me somewhat thanks. The stop light coming on when it was only slightly over halfway when I was driving at speed seems a bit overzealous though?

Theres no coolant leaks as far as I can tell.

[roddew]

One thing you could check is that both fans are cutting in as they're supposed to. Happened to me a few weeks ago, got far too hot and found that one of the relays behind the n/s headlight had melted and only one cooling fan was operative.

Rodders.

[endorfin]

Both fans working perfectly.

[robertmnorton]

Hi endorfin,what's halfway?Over 90?I don't know the scaling on the 2.5 gauge.If so, then no doubt the warning is too early or the gauge underreads.My 2.1 auto in the S of France with airtemps 30+ regularly topped 100 on the gauge with fast autoroute or Pyrineean mountain driving without any warning.Between 100 & 105 you could here the 2nd fan cut in and both go into hi-speed.The temp would then fall to above 90 and the fans cut out before the cycle resumed.Never a loss of coolant,and after the initial apprehension got used to it over the years and accepted it.
robertm