Can you damage your car from running it to cold?

[pjdm1980]

Will it hurt my engine('99 V6 Supercharged Statesman) if it runs just above the cold line on the temp guage?
And where should it sit?

[SweetWagon]

Will it hurt my engine('99 V6 Supercharged Statesman) if it runs just above the cold line on the temp guage?
And where should it sit?

No it wont do damage to your engine, It may increase engine wear on cold starts as its not warming up as quick, and use more fuel. The gauge should sit between 1/4 and 1/2 under normal conditions, sounds like your thermostat is seized open, time for a new one.

[pjdm1980]

Might Have to give it a go!
Thanks Mate.

[social]

or...keep it there for the next few hot weeks and then you wont overheat your car

[VR38]

Keep an eye on your oil level.

[pjdm1980]

Keep an eye on your oil level.

funny you say that it has used a bit of oil!
is that because it's running cold?

[VRAddiction]

it uses oil because there is a fair chance you have oil leaks...lol

and running cold wont cause it to use excess oil.

[EREXON]

The engine oil these days is pretty good for cold starts so its fine.
I wouldnt start and then start thrashing around whilst cold but it should be fine to drive cold.

[VR38]

funny you say that it has used a bit of oil!
is that because it's running cold?

Is the oil diluted?

[Andrew426]

Check your coolant levels too, if the needle isnt moving much. Or your coolant temp sensor.

[kopper69]

As mentioned above may be your thermostat. I would do a full service of the cooling system. There are really good instructions in the how-to section with pics. The instructions include replacement of the thermostat (which is fairly cheap). If you still have a problem it could be the sensor that supplies the reading to the instrument cluster. That one is also fairly cheap straight from holden and fairly quick and easy to get to.

[pjdm1980]

Is the oil diluted?

Ah not really sure what you mean by dilluted?

[VR38]

Is the oil thinner now that when you put it in?
If the engine runs too cold and fuel gets past the rings the oil will burn off more readily but the level is being compensated by the extra petrol in it.
So if you run a motor cooler than normal you should keep am eye on this to prevent premature bearing and ring failure.

[pjdm1980]

Is the oil thinner now that when you put it in?
If the engine runs too cold and fuel gets past the rings the oil will burn off more readily but the level is being compensated by the extra petrol in it.
So if you run a motor cooler than normal you should keep am eye on this to prevent premature bearing and ring failure.

Just dumped the oil and look the same viscosity as the stuff i put in when it cooled of changing the coolant and plugs was going to change the thermostat but pulled it all apart and its going to take me about 3 hrs so it will just have to run cold and i'll just keep changing oil every 5000 klm's.