Normal temperature for 88 300TE?
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 15
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C class wishlist
Normal temperature for 88 300TE?
I have noticed my car's temperature gauge will go up when I am in traffic. Here are some examples.
Highway driving
- around 80, usually stable
Traffic driving
- would go above 100 and then fan kicks in to reduce it back to between 80 and 100
Parked
- would go above 100 and then fan kicks in
Any idea what is happening?
All other cars I have owned had a stable temperature reading..
Thanks
Highway driving
- around 80, usually stable
Traffic driving
- would go above 100 and then fan kicks in to reduce it back to between 80 and 100
Parked
- would go above 100 and then fan kicks in
Any idea what is happening?
All other cars I have owned had a stable temperature reading..
Thanks
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 724
Likes: 31
Car free at the moment
Most cars have an "idiot guage" that points at the same location over a broad range of acceptable temperatures. Hence the reason they do not have any temp numbers on them. The Mercedes displays the actual coolant temp.
The thermostat begins to open at 82c. Hence the reason the coolant temp settles near this temperature during highway runs.
Your car uses an engine driven fan with a mechanical viscous clutch. The clutch should begin engaging when coolant temp reaches about 100c. You can tell when the clutch engages because there is noticable more fan roar when accelerating away from a stop. The fan clutch doesn't last forever, most likely it's not working and you are getting no meaningful work out of it.
The electric fan in front of the radiator comes on high speed when the coolant reaches 105c. This is probably what you are seeing. The electric fan should also run on low speed when the a/c is switched on and the high side pressure in the a/c system reaches a set value (basically all the time). The low speed fan generally keeps the coolant from reaching 105c except in very hot summer weather.
The thermostat begins to open at 82c. Hence the reason the coolant temp settles near this temperature during highway runs.
Your car uses an engine driven fan with a mechanical viscous clutch. The clutch should begin engaging when coolant temp reaches about 100c. You can tell when the clutch engages because there is noticable more fan roar when accelerating away from a stop. The fan clutch doesn't last forever, most likely it's not working and you are getting no meaningful work out of it.
The electric fan in front of the radiator comes on high speed when the coolant reaches 105c. This is probably what you are seeing. The electric fan should also run on low speed when the a/c is switched on and the high side pressure in the a/c system reaches a set value (basically all the time). The low speed fan generally keeps the coolant from reaching 105c except in very hot summer weather.
