cold weather operating temp

[dgjks6]

I know I am not going to get a definitive answer but would like some opinions without telling me my motor is going to blow.  1999 Carrera 4, rebuilt engine 10K miles ago.  Low temp thermostat used.  Car is a daily driver 24/7/365.  In the cold weather (10-20 degrees F)  final operating temp is 84-86 degrees C (183-187) with temp given by the secret menu.

 

Is it bad to have the final operating temp in the 180's in the winter?

[JFP in PA]

I know I am not going to get a definitive answer but would like some opinions without telling me my motor is going to blow.  1999 Carrera 4, rebuilt engine 10K miles ago.  Low temp thermostat used.  Car is a daily driver 24/7/365.  In the cold weather (10-20 degrees F)  final operating temp is 84-86 degrees C (183-187) with temp given by the secret menu.

 

Is it bad to have the final operating temp in the 180's in the winter?

 

Absolutely not a problem.  175-180F is fine for these engines, we have many customers running the same combination at much lower ambient temps and without any issues over prolonged useage.  And just as a thought, if your reference to "the secret menu" refers to using the climate control to read the coolant temps, just be aware that method can  often generate erroneous numbers.  If you want to see confirmable data, scan the car with a Porsche specific scan tool such as the Durametric system.

[Dario Campolattaro]

Just jumping in with a question. Mine runs just over 180 according to the gauge. Is that ok?

[JFP in PA]

Just jumping in with a question. Mine runs just over 180 according to the gauge. Is that ok?

 

I would have to say "maybe".  Unfortunately, the dash temperature display in these cars in well known for being both non linear as well as inaccurate, which makes it little more than an idiot light that moves, so you cannot always put a lot of faith in what it displays.  We have seen many cars sitting right on the "hash mark" for 180 that were running more like 205 to 210F, while others were even higher or in some cases lower than the indicated temperature.  We have also seen cars that were right on the money on the hash mark, but way off either above or below it.  The only way to know for sure were a given car is at a given display level is to collect real-time data from a quality scan tool like the Durametric package, or put aftermarket gauges in the car.

[dgjks6]

Thank you for a specific answer

 

According to the secret menu, my hash mark above the 180 is 171 degrees.

 

For Christmas I keep messaging my kids ideas for presents for my wife to get me.  I think the next message will be a durametric.  I just hope I can't ruin too much stuff with it

[dgjks6]

Also, according to the secret menu I don't think I have a low temp themostat.  Temp rises linearly to 191 degrees then rapidly drops back to 183 degrees and then stays within a few degrees of this.

[JFP in PA]

Also, according to the secret menu I don't think I have a low temp themostat.  Temp rises linearly to 191 degrees then rapidly drops back to 183 degrees and then stays within a few degrees of this.

 

The OEM thermostat starts to open around 187F, and is not fully open until around 197-200F (which is why most of these cars actually run well over 200F most of the time), so yours sounds more like the OEM unit.