I just found your post,
JS! As usual, Art has done his usual great job. Actually this
is the most verbiage that I ever seen from him!
I sold my E320 in Feb, so lost a test vehicle. Removed it from my sig.
I've just tested a 300E and a 190E 2.3 with 1.1K and they both came on around 92 - 93C.
You bring up a good point re when to cut in the AUX fan(s). Since I've been experimenting with a small head gasket leak, I lost my nice 40/60% mixture (AF/water) and Water Wetter (WW).
Periodically, I clean the expansion tank (about 4 qts) and refill it. Do this to see how much oil is
not accumulating. But my mixture is at least 50/50% plus there's no WW. I can see that in the TEMP gauge. After a 20 mile freeway run, jumping immediately in stop/go traffic, the temp gauge 'bangs' just under the 100C mark. This is with the 1.1K resistor which, after 7 months, is still within a few ohms of its initial value.
With 40/60 and WW, the car would never get above 92C or so. Plus the fans are going in both cases. With a little more water and WW, the aux fans would just cycle a bit. But with the present, the fans are getting a good workout, so does the alternator!
