Is my thermostat missing? 300D T

[Keith_otr]

Before I needlessly crack open the thermostat housing.........

.......My temp gauge seems to vary with the ambient temperatures.....anywhere from 100c on a hot day, to around 40c on cooler day (45 degs. F) and my interior heat is minimal. Should it vary this much? Does it sound like it's missing or defective?

Thanks folks!
Keith

[sixto]

Even on a cold day the temperature should be closer to 80 than 40.

Sixto
87 300SDL

[sailor15015]

How long does it take to heat up?

[t walgamuth]

it is either missing in action or stuck open. not good for your engine to run it that way. the engine is designed to run with the oil at the optimum temp. cold oil is not good for it. also hot is not good either.

tom w

[Nate]

If you have oil running through your cooling system, you have bigger problems then a falty/missing t-stat
(just had to say it... but that being said all info is correct other then oil running through it, should be MB coolant/distilled water)

I think that you may have either a failed fail-safe unit in there, or it was overheating and somebody got a "free fix" by taking it out... There is only one way to know for sure, because its all speculation now...

~Nate

[Keith_otr]

Thanks for the input guys....I'll be putting a thermostat in (or replacing the current one) ASAP.

Originally Posted by sailor15015

How long does it take to heat up?

This morning (~45 degs. F) it took about 4-5 mins to get to 40c.....that was as high as the coolant temp got.

Thanks,
Keith

[sailor15015]

40C is the lowest reading on the gauge, is it not? After four to five minutes mine's already up to if not above 80C. I'd say its definately time to crack that puppy open. Its not to difficult of a job.