Mike Tangas - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 05-29-2002, 10:56 PM

Mike, old buddy, explain to me how a car with a 84 degree thermostat runs at 80 to 82 degres? I really don't understand that. I have tested several brand new ones from the MB dealer in a pot of hot water with digital measuring equipment and find them NOT to open even at 84 degrees. Once they are open at a higher temp, how does the car run at 80 to 82 degres? This simply is not logical! The only explanation, is that your dash guage reads LOW. What do you think, Mike? I am buying a BMW 850 which runs cool all the time regardless of outside hot temp like a car should do. MB are crap! Even a Ford will run cool. Ugh!
Woody

CJ · #2 05-29-2002, 11:23 PM

Woody,

An 84-degree thermostat is designed to open at 84 degrees in a normal operating environment, meaning in a pressurized system. Additionally there is a margin of acceptable error in the calibration. The dash gauge will always read different than what the thermostat is rated at since the coolant temperature sensor is not located at the thermostat housing.

If you think MBZ's are crap in comparison to a BMW 850, you are in for a big surprise. I can tell you first hand that the 8 series BMW is VERY temperamental. I speak from experience from owning both an 850 & 840. Had I known you wanted an 8 series a few months ago I would have gladly sold you the car at a deep discount.

PS-The 850's are notorious for running hot, ask your BMW dealer or check out some of the BMW tech sites if you doubt me.

MikeTangas · #3 05-30-2002, 01:01 AM

Well Woody, I installed an 80*C T-stat, purchased through FastLane. I do know that prior to my cooling system work, I could drive 200 miles non-stop and the gauge would read 40*C. I figured T-stat stuck open.

What I found was 100% (or nearly so) coolant and a T-stat that had holes drilled all around the lip. Same as having no T-stat at all. Upon replacing the T-stat, coolant and hoses the gauge sits 99.9% of the time at 80*C and creeps to ~82*C in traffic with the A/C on.

With the 80*C T-stat I have I fully expect to see 80*C at the gauge. I think the gauge is nearly accurate, although I don't have access to a laser or infrared thermometer to verify.

#4 06-01-2002, 01:00 AM

Woody: "I have tested several brand new ones from the MB dealer in a pot of hot water"

Any person of reasonable intelligence would know this is a totally inacurate form of measurement. You are comparing apples and oranges in regard to your test environment.

Speaking of crap, I had a 97' 850. The dashboard lights kept blinking and the hazards and turn signals came on at random or did not work at all. Secondly, the engine idled like a bucking donkey on initial take-off and at stop lights it idled too high. We're talking fairly new car with no previous accidents or damage record. Took a loss on that one. BMW has yet to make a car that lives up to my standards. I have owned Fords of far better quality than BMW. I will never buy another BMW.

stevebfl · #5 06-01-2002, 10:22 AM

The technical aspect of this post is dominated by the stupidity of the author's statistical conclusion: MB are crap. Lots of case studies here I can tell.

Well, from vast experience, I can confirm that there are crappy cars from every brand and from all that experience the single most common problem of all those cars is their owners.

Writing "MBs are crap" on an MB board has to be the eqivalent to yelling fire in a crowded theatre. If I had the ax this thread would be history.