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Low temp problems
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:55 pm
by Punisher
My suby only heats up to a bit under a quarter on the temp guage.
I thought I might be able to improve fuel economy by getting it to run a bit hotter. So went to the spare parts shop and asked for a hotter thermostat.
They gave me a Dayco DT28G.
After installing it the bloody thing still runs at the same temp.
Any ideas ???
Also do you guys think its worth fitting a manual choke ? (Again, another attempt to improve fuel economy.)
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:35 pm
by steptoe
what model ?
is temp gauge like many Ls and has a sender that does not send any hotter than quarter? mine was, replaced temp sender, now reads more truthful
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:43 pm
by Punisher
Mines a 94 L Series ...
Might change the sender and see what happens then.
Thanx
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:00 pm
by AlpineRaven
I would be sussed as well...
Like what I did with my liberty - I was sussed that the temp never moves on the dash so changed all sensors etc and its still the same, so lucky its normal for me.
Cheers
AP
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:21 pm
by Gannon
Yeah its quite normal for a L series to read 1/4 to 1/3 gauge for temperature. If you want accurate temperature readings, your best bet would be an aftermarket temperature gauge
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:33 pm
by steptoe
Sounds like the L's around the world have senders that look to behave normal as in Cold to corter, then never anymore - causing baked hot engines without any warning. Never found a sender before that only 1/4 worked, they either did or did not. My enginewatchdog fitment paid off there - love it!!
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:21 pm
by Punisher
New sender ... comes up half way now ... should be a bit higher im guessing but better than what it was.
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:17 am
by steptoe
Trying to cook it? I am happy to see true indication of quarter to half - allowing some further safe cooling for hotter work times.
Economy you chase? Why not try the $17 subaru tune up in a can that others have posted about recently. I read instructions on can to learn more..it is applied to a vacuum port of inlet manifold as a foam - half the tin (which will be a guess) is shoved in op temp engine, left for five minutes or so before starting to clean it out and the rest goes in somehow somewhere. Sounds like it does a good internal carbon clean.
Check compression, replace air filter, spark plugs, check carby does a nice atomise on accelerator pump. Just make sure auto choke comes off.
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 9:47 am
by T'subaru
Agree with Steptoe, if I see half gauge I'm pulling over quick! Wait a sec, never replaced my sender so I will never see half gauge, just went aux temp gauge...its all good

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:43 pm
by El_Freddo
Your an odd one! Everyone I know that has an L is trying to keep them cool, not warming them up more!
I wouldn't trust the dash guage either - there are no specific markings to guage where the temp is at until its getting up near the red. I've also found that these guages seem to be exponential - as in the normal temp is 82 or there abouts, hot is 91 (thermo's kick in) at this point your guage should be near half or higher. 100 deg and beyond is the red!
Your subi should be able to go higher than 100 deg without boiling if the pressure of the cooling system is holding well and you've got a good coolant in there too. I wouldn't be driving around with it like this all the time - only a once off occasion before looking into the problem further.
Crazy kids!
Cheers
Bennie