May I ask for the benefit of the collective wisdom, please?
I've owned this car for about 4 years. In all that time, the temp guage has only gone over 1/4 on three occasions:
1. Climbing the Pyrenees in ambient temp of 36, when it went to 3/4 but quickly fell back when the climb was completed
2. In central London (M11 to Westminster in rheavy traffic) when it reached 1/2
3. When water pump failed when it went to red, electric fans cut in.
Other than that, it never goes above (and rarely reaches) 1/4.
Car runs ok, heater works fine, and because of the above instances I'm happy that gauge/fans work ok. It's just that in normal use (long journies included) it never seems to warm up properly.
I'm old enough to remember having to blank off part/all of the rad grille on cars years ago (you could even buy rad blinds) and I'm thinking of making some blanking plates (prob plastic held on with cable ties) to fit behind the chrome grille. (Would still be plenty of air flow from the vent below 'bumper' level).
Car definitely runs better and better mpg in hot temperatures.
Thoughts, please?
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