What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - over30

A while ago when I was looking through this site, I found a link to a simple set of instructions on how to change the:

'Oil Cooler Thermostat' on a 2.0TDCi Mondeo.

These instructions showed a way of changing this thermostat that did not involve removing the inlet manifold?

Does anyone have any idea where this link is?

I have had the car for 5 weeks, and I am experiencing the overcooling problem, (made worse over the last few days of icy weather) Took it for a 50 mile run at the weekend, non stop, and the temp gauge only reached 1/4 scale.

Today, after driving nearly 6 miles, the temp gauge had hardly moved off the peg!

so my intention was to replace the 'oil cooler thermostat' and the standard thermostat at the same time.

Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - Peter D

Do you not mean the coolant thermostat, it is the water that is not hot enough not the oil. Regards Peter

Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - Collos25

Does the car run ok and the heater warm or is actually cold

Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - over30
This engine has a 'water thermostat' and an 'oil cooler thermostat'. From what I have read, a fault with the 'oil cooler thermostat' can also effect the temperature of the engine.

The heater does get warm, but the engine temperature is low, it never reaches normal operating temperature.
Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - Collos25

It sound as though you have a faulty gauge/sensor as opposed to a faulty thermostat ,

Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - over30

Update:

Ok, I fitted a new coolant thermostat at the weekend.

Since the weather turned colder, the engine seems to run at an even lower temperature!

The temperature gauge only just goes past the number '60' on the gauge, even after several miles, although the heater is blowing out warm air.

The temperature gauge does work, although it seems to take a very long time (at least 12 miles) of driving before it reaches anywhere near what I would call 'normal operating temperature' even then, it only reaches the '11 o clock position', and generally stays there.

Is this normal behaviour for a TDCi engine? The engine has only done 63k.

Would blanking off part of the radiator help the car at all, or would that cause harm to the engine?

Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - philthespudman

Update:

Ok, I fitted a new coolant thermostat at the weekend.

Since the weather turned colder, the engine seems to run at an even lower temperature!

The temperature gauge only just goes past the number '60' on the gauge, even after several miles, although the heater is blowing out warm air.

The temperature gauge does work, although it seems to take a very long time (at least 12 miles) of driving before it reaches anywhere near what I would call 'normal operating temperature' even then, it only reaches the '11 o clock position', and generally stays there.

Is this normal behaviour for a TDCi engine? The engine has only done 63k.

Would blanking off part of the radiator help the car at all, or would that cause harm to the engine?

I thought I'd pass on my experience with a my 'cool running' Mondeo. Last winter I had the same problem with the car not warming up properly and changed the main thermostat for a non genuine item. (the Ford one is around £50!!!) This made no difference whatsoever. The weather warmed up soon after and as I wasn't cold any more I gave up. Then came the current cold spell and the problem remained so I bit the bullet and bought a genuine one, no change and fifty quid worse off.

Looking on various forums I discovered the second oil cooler thermostat and bought one from Mr Ford. (just under £20) After fitting it this afternoon my temperature gauge runs smack in the middle and the heater is toasty, yipeeee!!!

The hose that exits from the oil cooler enters the radiator on the right hand side about 1/3 of the way up and should remain cold until the engine is warm, mine was warm all the time so was taking heat from the engine to the radiator even though the main thermostat was closed. When I removed the old oil cooler stat and blew down it it was open even though it was cold. I would guess that to eliminate the second stat as a cause of over cooling the hose from the oil cooler to the rad could be temporarily clamped with a brake pipe clamp or similar to simulate the stat being fully closed,

I hope this helps someone else to stay warm this winter, good luck!

Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDCi 130 - Low running temperature - fordman1

I have also 'bit the bullet' fitted a new 'oil cooler thermostat' this morning. Took it for a 20 mile drive afterwards, temperature gauge reaches the middle at last!

Also noticed during the drive, that the fuel economy has started to improve, its gone from 41mpg, and climbed to around 45.5mpg by the end of the journey.