My 85 Euro wagon normally runs with an engine temp below 60. Hard driving it I t gets to 60 and really hard driving up the mountain doing 70 on a 100d day gets it to almost 80... Whereas every other w123 ran at 80 or higher normally. It's low enough in this car that I suspect the gauge being off. Could this be due to a lower temp thermostat in the car or? I ask cause I've always seen 80-85 being the optimal temp.

Ok - can't resist... Did Dr. Bert work on this car? (for those that haven't noticed look for his long thread where other members go crazy because he likes to run 60 degree thermostats - amusing reading.

Sounds like it could be a low temp thermostat, a stuck open thermostat, or maybe a temp gauge that's off. Hard to tell without further testing.

So, where in north Georgia are you? I'm near Gainesville.

If your temperature indication is accurate, the issue has to be with the themostat. Or lack thereof.

Probably no thermostat or broken thermostat. A 60c thermostat wouldn't cause it to run below 60c.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

I had the same symptoms on mine when I swapped in a new engine and it turned out to be a "modified thermostat", courtesy of the PO





I'm guessing something similar on yours.

__________________
Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

Use an IFR Lazer thermometer and take temps of the head, Radiator etc... to see where the under hood temps are.

My guess is a Thermostat also. when we bought the 85 300D back in 97 I did`t know what the "C" reading on the temp gauge ment or where they were suppost to be. had it in a shop and they said they replaced the Stat because it was reading low.

The Stat they removed (refering to the above picture) had that cross piece broken off on one side, andlet the center part sort of cocked over and not seat.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

He he he he he he he he he he!!!!

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

The guys who claim a Benz will run hot without a thermostat will LOVE this thread!!!!!

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

My 240D had a stuck open thermostat. It would never get out of the basement on engine temperature last winter. 50 Deg c was a struggle.

Remember what is going on here. The radiator is designed to have more heat removal capability than the engine can produce. (Otherwise you will end up with a melted engine.)

In order for the engine to reach optimal operating temperature, the coolant in the block needs to circulate around the block without going into the radiator. This allows the engine heat to build the coolant temperature up to the 80 deg c region. Then the thermostat opens and allows the coolant to flow into the radiator. The system is now at equilibrium and the heat is removed and dissipated in the radiator.

If you did not have the thermostat closed at startup, the heat produced by the engine cannot overcome the thermal mass of the engine and the constant flow of cold water coming from the radiator.

If your thermostat did not open up once you are up to nominal temperature you would over heat.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Too cool is just as bad as too hot.

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

Makes me think of.

I'll have to pull the therm and check it. I guess I should wait until I get the A/C working again and give it a nice hot day with the A/C on to see where it's at.

Why?

Ever see low piston temps score a skirt????

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

You have e-mail.


.