Coolant Temp, what should it be??

[MY VZ]

Today i held down the mode and set buttons when i started the car and scrolled through the different readings and found my coolant temperature
was 99 deg. Celsius. Surely this cant be ok can it? The car was hot and the temp gauge was sitting on the first line where it normally sits.
Does anyone know what the acceptable level is or can anyone compare these numbers for me. Its a 2005 VZ Executive with 154 000 on it and its due for a minor service at 155k

Cheers

[illlusion]

its normal thermostat opens at round about 100 fans kick in about 104-108 and fans go to full speed around about 120

[torana355]

Yep perfectly normal. I thought the same thing when i got my SV6 as most older motors operate at a lower temperature. My 355 Torana ran at about 85degs.

[MY VZ]

thanks for that i now have one less thing to worry about atm, i just assumed 99 was to high to cool anything

[m1lky]

The burning fuel is much hotter than that. In theory if you maintain constant temp in the cylinder your efficiency also increases.

Remember at sea level your antifreeze boils at 134ish, but the system is pressurized so it's higher again.

[KrisHolden]

its normal thermostat opens at round about 100 fans kick in about 104-108 and fans go to full speed around about 120

So, Im a little confused. On a day that has a temperature of 22degC, my coolant heats to 108 and then the fans kick in to drop it down to about 102. It usually only heats up on idle.
You mentioned that the thermostat opens at 100. Does this mean that the fans are usually there as a backup if the thermostat is not able to keep the temp down?
I wonder if this is normal as in a VZ equipe I have the temp stays much more constant.

[richardpalinkas]

My temp sits on the 1/4 mark, fans kick in at the next mark, 1 mark below half way

[KrisHolden]

My temp sits on the1/4 mark, fans kick in at the next mark, 1 mark below half way

Thanks for your reply. Im not sure if the SV6 temp gauge is much different to mine (see attachment), but what Iv done is put two red lines. I know my calais uses a 190kw engine as opposed to my other car VZ Equipe 175kw, however in this Calais, the temp fluctuates between the two red lines Iv drawn whilst in the other car it just sits at the lower red line all the time.

Any thoughts if this is normal. Cause previous to Kmart fixing my heater tap the pattern was the temp fluctuating several times between these two red lines then jumping to High.

[VZCALAIS190]

My temp sits on the1/4 mark, fans kick in at the next mark, 1 mark below half way

Thanks for your reply. Im not sure if the SV6 temp gauge is much different to mine (see attachment), but what Iv done is put two red lines. I know my calais uses a 190kw engine as opposed to my other car VZ Equipe 175kw, however in this Calais, the temp fluctuates between the two red lines Iv drawn whilst in the other car it just sits at the lower red line all the time.

Any thoughts if this is normal. Cause previous to Kmart fixing my heater tap the pattern was the temp fluctuating several times between these two red lines then jumping to High.

Seems normal, mine sits just under the 1/4 mark in cold weather and sits within those two red lines you drew in hot weather or traffic.

[KrisHolden]

Cool
Thanks guys!

[illlusion]

fans will only cut in under 40kmph any car will over heat if its left idling with no air flow through the radiator thermostate is there to regulate the water flow and keep the car at a consistant temp with out one in on really cold nights the water circulates to fast and car will not get up to operating temp same in summer water gets to hot as it dont have enough time to cool down and the temp is sitting in the pics is normal i had my adventra at 3/4 when i was going through a 3km patch pf soft beach sand in the middle of summer

[KrisHolden]

fans will only cut in under 40kmph any car will over heat if its left idling with no air flow through the radiator thermostate is there to regulate the water flow and keep the car at a consistant temp with out one in on really cold nights the water circulates to fast and car will not get up to operating temp same in summer water gets to hot as it dont have enough time to cool down and the temp is sitting in the pics is normal i had my adventra at 3/4 when i was going through a 3km patch pf soft beach sand in the middle of summer

Thanks man
I just want to make sure I never risk burning the thing and blowing the gaskets and other damage.