XM running at elevated temperature

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Jimmydeath
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Joined: 14 Feb 2001, 22:05
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XM running at elevated temperature

Post by Jimmydeath »

My XM V6 SEI seems to be running hotter that it should. On a warm day the temp needle is just touching the first red graduation and on a cold day the needle is one graduation below the red. The radiator looks relatively new (less than 4 years) and I have back flushed it to make sure. I have descaled the cooling system but to no avail. The system does not lose any coolant and I am pretty sure that there are no airlocks.
The car runs fine despite the high temperature and I get the above readings with the aircon switched off.
Any ideas would be gratefully received.
philbar
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Joined: 08 Mar 2001, 00:01
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Post by philbar »

It sounds like the thermostat is sticking, this is located under the o/s engine mount, it is worthwhile getting an original quality part as cheaper ones do not have the wiggle pin, or it could be the switch to the cooling fans, remove the connections and clean up and this should do the trick.
Be very careful with the cooling on this engine as the heads do have a tendancy to warp if the engine runs to hot, and at least £1200 to rectify!!!!
Jimmydeath
Posts: 25
Joined: 14 Feb 2001, 22:05
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by Jimmydeath »

Well I changed the thermostat but I didn't expect it to be quite so challenging, I have visions of the first thing down the production line being the thermostat around which the car is built.
To gain access I had to remove the vehicle management systems and their box, the coolant reservoir and the injector cover panel. I then had to attach an engine hoist and remove the two top engine mounts on the right hand side this was followed by a struggle to remove the engine mount bracket. I could get the bolts undone but there was not enough clearance to remove them or the bracket, I did however manage to gain enough clearance to get a spanner on to the thermo housing bolts and then slowly work them loose with my fingers (which are now shredded). After this there was much fiddling around in order to get the cover and the thermostat out of the small area. In all this took me 4 hours surely there must be an easier method that I missed other than removing the engine completely.
Dave Bamber
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x 2

Post by Dave Bamber »

Hmm, and we think these cars are wonderful! Are we mad?!
philbar
Posts: 37
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Location: United Kingdom
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Post by philbar »

YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Jimmydeath
Posts: 25
Joined: 14 Feb 2001, 22:05
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by Jimmydeath »

Hello again
Well after a week of running the replacement thermostat seems to have done the job. I took the old one and placed it in boiling water and it just sat there, didn't open up one bit.
I think what was throwing me is that there are several pipes to the radiator so even if the thermostat doesn't open the radiator still gets hot. The giveaway seems to be that the pipe leading from the thermostat housing stays a lot cooler than the rest of the system.
Whilst removing the engine mounts the main one disintegrated in my hands, £40 + vat from citroen if you're interested.
Anyway despite its faults it has never broken down.
philbar
Posts: 37
Joined: 08 Mar 2001, 00:01
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by philbar »

Good news regarding the thermostat, I know it is a lot of work, I did mine last June but it is cheaper and easier than having knackered heads etc to deal with, a tame Citroen mechanic locally told me the cooling system on the V6 is marginal at the best, and for obvious reasons the rear head runs hotter. A friend who also has a V6 did remove all the underbonnet insulation and had " Escort Cosworth " bonnet vents fitted, at great expense !!!!, but with no real improvment. Last year in Italy, my V6 gave no problems and the temp. was in the low 40 degrees centigrade! I think it is something we have to accept.
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