Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Duratec coolant temperature

I've noticed the coolant gauge on my 2011 2.0 Durate car has started to sit at around 80*. I've only had the.car a few weeks but I'm sure it previously sat at the the "normal" 100*Ish.

This remained the case after a spirited 30 mile drive last weekend but it's only just struck me as a possible sticking thermostat. Any thoughts?

I doubt it Andy. It's more likely to be the colder weather. Just keep an eye on it.

Agree, mine used to do the same once the chilly weather arrived. If the stat was stuck open it would still eventually arrive at the normal temp.

If the 80 degs reading was obtained from the ECU diagnostics with an OBD tool rather than the ornament on the dashboard when the engine was up to temp I would say that it was too low. The Duratec is designed to run hot at around 100 and even above. A genuine 80 deg water temp at the head sensor might imply that the stat was stuck open. I wouldn’t take the gauge too seriously but check the ECU live data if you want to be sure.

Andy,
As Dave & Steve have said, around 80degs in the cooler weather is quite normal. I thought my fan wasn't working during the summer when the temp went past 100 but I now know that it doesn't come on until at least 105 so don't worry, all is well.

Reg, Ben Duncan swapped the censor in my 4/4 cvh for a Fiat Punto one and it comes on at before 90 goes off around 120 . Still got the box if anyone wants the number ( if I can find the box in the garage ) .

If it's the smiths sensor supplied by CAI 80C is approx 103 ohms sender resistance.You can measure the sender resistance to earth and check (disconnect cable first of course). You can then cycle the indicator using a 10Kohm pot' just one wire of the pot to engine block (earth) and the other connected to the signal wire from the sender to the gauge, ignition on and check the reading. These things are'nt manufactured to Natonal Physics Lab standards so the accuracy is not fabulous by any stretch. You may have the ford sensor though, which I think is a different set up.

My general observation is that the "normal" temperature is about 90°C. The high speed fan switches on at about 92°C and on hot days the temperature hovers around 100°C. It actually drops a bit when the aircon is on because the aircon radiator is pre-cooling part of the air before it hits the engine radiator.

I would think 80°C quite low but I would not be overly concerned if the ambient temperature is under 10° and the load is light.

The Omex ECU is set to recognise anything below 70°C as cold running.

I guess using the heater would cool it as well?

Yes indeed. An old trick to control hot running.