Thread: 2.4 PUMA - what is the normal coolant running Temp?

Hey Gents....I'm still very much learning about these 2.4 Pumas, and one thing I'm curious about is how quickly (time/distance) should these Pumas take to come up to "normal" operating temp (coolant Temp)?

Mine has the larger PWR Aftermarket Radiator and is also fitted with a ScanGauge II (SGII). What I have noticed via the SGII gauge is that the Coolant temp seems to take forever to get to any sort of what I would call a normal operating Temp (>70degrees). Quite often it remains below this temp for a long time unless I go for a long drive. Being Winter time, not sure how much that would affect things, but with it running what I would call "very cool", I'm a bit concerned as to whether there might be any side-effects (ie: poor fuel economy, etc)

"If" the thermostat was stuck open, what "other" things would one expect to notice that would point it to being a faulty thermostat?

The Temp reading that is shown on these SGII gauges - where is that temp from? The Radiator Tank itself or from within the engine block?

Also, can other owners who run an SGII (or something similar) tell me what their normal operating temp is of their cooling system and roughly how long it takes to get there?


cheers....
rob

Yes, might have to have the thermostat looked into......

Originally Posted by The Cone of Silence

I don't have an aftermarket radiator in mine but I do have a thermostat which opens at a lower temperature, an Allisport intercooler and a DPL remap. The rad I do have is also pretty nicely caked in dirt.

Prior to the aftermarket thermostat being installed, my 2.4 would reach operating temperature (around 76 degrees) in about 5 to 8 minutes of driving. Operating temperature was 76-84 in most conditions and on any sort of climb the temp would often go (and stay) north of 90 until a nice flat/ downhill when it would drop back to high 70s/ low 80s. On steep, long climbs I'd experience anything up to 107, probably due to the radiator and the fact that I have a tonne of stuff on and in the car.

It's better with the new thermostat in that it doesn't seem to go up into the 90s quite so easily anymore....but once it does it stays there just like before (which makes sense) so I'm considering a DLP oil cooler or an aftermarket radiator.

Sounds like your thermostat might be open if the temp is taking ages to get up to the mid-to-high 70s.