Mk3 8v - Running Temporature and When Rad Fan should kick in!?

[i-espedair]

Please guys, what is the normal running temporature for the mk3 8v?

And, when should the rad fan be kickin in?

Fan seems to come on after 10 minutes driving and a couple of minutes of ticking over?

Is this right? I'm sure it wasn't this hot before!

[golfvr6]

Oil temp 90 - 100, about the same for coolant. The fan should come on when coolant reads 2/3s on the dial. If you think the car is running hot then maybe you should change the thermostat and the thermoswitch on the radiator.

[i-espedair]

Would seem my car has suddenly hit that point (just when i'm thinking about Bremsport breaks and PSS coil overs) where it needs loads of cash spent on it!

My header tank is leaking slightly and needs to be replaced. It is running to hot and i don't think the pressure is right in the system. Rad fan is coming on every five minutes which i don't think is right on a frosty morning in september!

Gator is split on the CV joint and the joint its self is now makin noise. I had not noticed this as the induction is so bloody loud! The joint is not completely dry but the noise it is makin leads me to believe it is full of grit and the surface of the bearings is starting to pit.

How much for a new CV?

[golfvr6]

Another thing worth changing is the cap on the header tank.

[i-espedair]

I was considering changing the whole header tank! The system was pressure checked and only lost 0.1bar pressure after 30 minutes at 1bar! This is as it should be.

However i am convinced i am still loosing a little coolant and the right hand side of the tank where there is that plastic guard sits is always wet! This is where i originally thought it had split but after removing that black plastic guard it looks there is an overflow there when the pressure reaches a certain level. Hence the plastic guard i guess to stop it pissing out every where.

Am i right? Why should i replace the cap?

Hey golfvr6, we live quite near. How'd you like to hook up and help me wiv my car???

[golfvr6]

It will cost ya!    where are you?

[i-espedair]

In between Horsham and Dorking.

[golfvr6]

If the running temp is ok , and the fan works , change the cap as this can let pressure out through the vent when pressure is not high(faulty valve in cap). If you still have a wet patch afterwards then you probably have a headgasket leak which is pressurising the coolant system. This is what has happened to my vr6, i'm taking the head off today and tomorrow.