|
|
|
|
|
#1
01-20-2004, 08:02 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
380SL Temp Guage Reading?
All -
What should the temp guage read on an '81 380SL? I read the stuff on the CD about the two-stage thermostat but could not tell how it is supposed to behave. Mine comes up to just above the 80 mark, and sits there for a while. Then it rises briefily to the 100 mark, and drops back to about 1/8" inch below it, where it generally stays, cruising, traffic, or idle. The thermostat is new. Am I in the ballpark? TIA.
__________________
Chuck Taylor Falls Church VA '66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe 
|
|
#2
01-21-2004, 03:34 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
That's about the same as mine and I guess is pretty much normal. Mine warms to normal operating temperature after about 4 miles.
I believe that some 380s suffered from fluctuating temp guages which M-B fixed by a small modification to the water passages in the water pump. -- bobw 1983 380SL 1991 BMW 735iSE
|
|
#3
01-21-2004, 09:09 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I went through this with the dealer and finally a helpful tech person pulled me aside and told me how to modify the thermostat so that it will cool the engine properly.
1. Remove thermostat and with a strong pair of pliers break off the centering arm. The arm was a nice idea, but the hole tends to fill up with gunk causing the thermostat to stay closed. 2.Using a 4mm drill bit drill 3 holes in the frame part part of the thermostat (make sure that it won't be covered by the rubber seal) that will allow a little of the coolant to constantly flow whenever the engine is running. I did this last year and my 380SL NEVER even comes close to 100! 
__________________
Old age and treachery will allways overcome youth and skill!  1993 S500 1984 380SL
|
 |
| Bookmarks |
|
|
.
Linear Mode
