O.K. I have a problem that has been going on for about a year. I have a 93 M6 and it will try to run hot when at a stand still. Driving at 50mph or higher it runs at about 140-150 degrees. Of course on the highway its fine but when I stop I can count to ten and the gauge will start to run up. It has gotten as high as 220 on me before (not often) but I just cut the car off. Now when I'm in traffic if I get to a light and I know it will be a few minutes before I get moving again I will cut the car off and just won't give it the chance to heat up. I haven't seen any leaks and I have been checking the coolant level for a few days and it seems that a small amount is dissappearing. I have been checking the oil and haven't seen any coolant in it but maybe it's not enough for me to notice. I have replaced the therm, w/p, had radiator rotted out and I am not only confused but also afraid that I may be damaging the car but it's my only car. I bled the system a couple times and it seems the fans are coming on. Does anyone have any idea or suggestions?
I apologize for the novel
thanks ahead of time

 

220 is normal. stock programming the first fan doesnt come on till 225

 

The gauge may be reading wrong or you have a circulation problem. Maybe the radiator is your problem from being installed wrong or the wrong type or plugged. Do your fans run when it hot and is the coolant 50/50 mix? My old 79 did it and it will climb to almost red and drop but the car never gets hot the gauge just reads it does. I would put in a 160 degree and see what happens since it is only around $10 you don't have much to loose. That is not good for the engine if it is getting over heated. Air pockets in the line can cause that to.

 

I am going to check the fans today when I get out and drive it. Also I have seen the gauge go up close to the red and then go back to the middle so maybe that is when the fans come on. I am little scared to give that a shot today but I'm going to and I may go ahead and install a 160 degree thermostat anyway. When I first got the car (2 years ago) it didn't do the whole up to red and back routine so I'm sure that's not normal but I could be wrong. thanks for the suggestions and I will be posting the outcome of my "experiments" today.

 

220 is normal cant understand gms thinking.

 

It reduces emissions and improves fuel economy, thats why such a high temperature, it also has an effect on engine wear.

 

my car does the same thing but i have been to busy to figure it out, i just flip the a/c on when im at a stop and it turns the fans on

 

my a/c doesn't work and I have tried cutting on the a/c, defrost, heat and nothing... it just slows it down a little but the gauge still continues to rise

 

The fan on the passenger side is coming on at 220 degrees... then the gauge starts to slowly go back down to about 180 degrees. I know that it's got a 180 thermostat and the fan comes on at 220 but something still isn't right because the gauge did not rise like that to begin with. Any suggestion?

 

i bet yu still have air in the system.

 

Maybe you are mistaken? Maybe something was broken previously and caused the fans to run all the time? Did you have a check engine light on before? that could cause the fans to run all the time.

 

Like everyone is saying, at around 220 (normal) the fans will kick on. So far, you say they do and the gauge starts coming down slowly, then your fine. Worry if it stays high (red zone) without coming down, then you have a problem.

I was just like you, when I got my Z28 and did my first repairs on it (opti replacement) and fired it up, I thought I had messed something up, but like you describe, the temp. gauge started to slowly come down after 220 or so.

 

The check engine light was not on before. I did not notice the fans running constantly but it is definitely a possibility. I got out today and drove the car for about an hour and I went through town. At a light the gauge would still rise but it would go up to about 220 and start to go back down slowly so I guess it's fine. It's just that a year and a half ago it wasn't doing that.