GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: kane1210 on 20 March 2009, 14:34

Title: why 90 degree's???
Post by: kane1210 on 20 March 2009, 14:34
Engine temp 90. was driving home today and wondered why 90, my s3 was this temp as well im sure most cars are. Anyone know why??
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: ifti on 20 March 2009, 14:34
Because 90 is just right ;)
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: icenutter on 20 March 2009, 16:13
I do know that the gauge lies.  On VAG cars the actual water temp can be about 10o out and it will stay at 90o.  I guess it's to stop people being alarmed.
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: joesgti on 20 March 2009, 16:37
I do know that the gauge lies.  On VAG cars the actual water temp can be about 10o out and it will stay at 90o.  I guess it's to stop people being alarmed.

what!? thats stupid, if thats the case then there is no point in even having the gauge in the first place!?  :huh:
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: bacillus on 20 March 2009, 17:50
I do know that the gauge lies.  On VAG cars the actual water temp can be about 10o out and it will stay at 90o.  I guess it's to stop people being alarmed.

This^^^ is true as there is a dead zone at the 90C mark if you check with vcds.
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: carl1 on 20 March 2009, 18:51
if it was 100c it would boil
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: bacillus on 20 March 2009, 19:13
if it was 100c it would boil

That is incorrect as the system is pressurised thus raising the coolant boiling point...
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: carl1 on 20 March 2009, 19:20
if it was 100c it would boil

That is incorrect as the system is pressurised thus raising the coolant boiling point...
well thats something new i have learned today :smiley:
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: Egbutt Wash on 20 March 2009, 19:57
Both the pressure and the ethylene glycol raise the boiling point.
An atmosphere or so pops it up by about 25C and the antifreeze perhaps another 12C
Giving nearer 140C as the boiling point of the stuff in the cooling system.
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: stealthwolf on 20 March 2009, 20:06
Giving nearer 140C as the boiling point of the stuff in the cooling system.
Which, IIRC, above the max temp on the guage.
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: dubcruiser on 21 March 2009, 10:25
Giving nearer 140C as the boiling point of the stuff in the cooling system.
Which, IIRC, above the max temp on the guage.

Yeah max on the guage is 130C...
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: Egbutt Wash on 22 March 2009, 19:41
Cos if it's boiling you are stuffed.
130C max on the gauge is to scare the begeebies out of the driver when the needle hits the stop.
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: datracer99 on 09 April 2009, 06:14
90 is the best compromise for saftety and efficiency.
Engines run more efficiently between 90 and 100 degrees. Anything over 100 and you start getting reliability issues. Under 90 and you lose efficiency.

I have a Nissan race car which we have worked hard to get a constant 90 to 95 deg, and always tune it in that temp range. Invloved relocating the thermostat, electric water pump, and a lot of effort, but it works.
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: neg on 09 April 2009, 09:35
I do know that the gauge lies.  On VAG cars the actual water temp can be about 10o out and it will stay at 90o.  I guess it's to stop people being alarmed.

what!? thats stupid, if thats the case then there is no point in even having the gauge in the first place!?  :huh:

Some fords and toyotas dont - they have a blue light for when cold, nothing when normal and red light if it overheats - which for most drivers is probably a good thing as you would notice it more than a gauge that is there all the time.
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: dubcruiser on 10 April 2009, 10:15
I do know that the gauge lies.  On VAG cars the actual water temp can be about 10o out and it will stay at 90o.  I guess it's to stop people being alarmed.

what!? thats stupid, if thats the case then there is no point in even having the gauge in the first place!?  :huh:

Some fords and toyotas dont - they have a blue light for when cold, nothing when normal and red light if it overheats - which for most drivers is probably a good thing as you would notice it more than a gauge that is there all the time.

The VW Beetle doesn't have a guage, just lights as do all modern BMW's...
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 10 April 2009, 13:13
Both the pressure and the ethylene glycol raise the boiling point.

Such a shame that G12 (nor the later G12+, and the current G12++) is not ethylene glycol!  :wink:

But yes, you are correct.  :smiley:
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 10 April 2009, 13:20
I do know that the gauge lies.  On VAG cars the actual water temp can be about 10o out and it will stay at 90o.  I guess it's to stop people being alarmed.

what!? thats stupid, if thats the case then there is no point in even having the gauge in the first place!?  :huh:

Not really.  Why do you think they stopped fitting oil pressure guages?  Peeps were told that the oil pressure should run at say 40psi, yet when the oil gets really hot, and you let the engine idle, the pressure can drop down to 10 psi, and the drivers arses started twitching, and kept running to their stealers.  That is why you now just get an oil pressure light, which simply warns you when the pressure drops too low.

On many cars, particularly small or city cars (the Vauxhall Corsa is a classic example) don't have a temperature guage, just a warning light to tell you when it is too hot.  Problem with doing away with the coolant guage, is that we really need to know when the engine is both too cold and too hot!
Title: Re: why 90 degree's???
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 10 April 2009, 13:26
90 is the best compromise for saftety and efficiency.
Engines run more efficiently between 90 and 100 degrees. Anything over 100 and you start getting reliability issues. Under 90 and you lose efficiency.

But the crucial issue is where you actually measure the actual temperature of the water.  Measure in the cylinder head next to the exhaust ports, and you would probably be very close to 140 deg C - or even higher.  Yet measure the bottom hose of the rad, and you are very likely to find the temp 50, 60 even 70 degrees lower!

And don't forget that you can also loose engine efficiency with too high a temperature, as well as too low.  Same with reliablity - if you thrash a cold engine, it wont last long!