ICE/coolant temps

[hybridbear]

I'm curious for those owners with a ScanGauge or who use ET Mode what you see for coolant temps while driving. ptjones on the C-Max Forum determined that the grille shutters open at 190 F or 88 C. I have not seen our car get that warm. My first day with acdii's grille cover I think I saw the coolant temp hit 90 C, but recently it feels like the car has adapted because now I never see the coolant temp get above 84 C according to ET Mode in city or highway driving. Yesterday I left ET Mode on for more than the first half hour I was driving 65 MPH on the interstate to see how warm the ICE would get with the grille cover. The outside temp was 80 F and I was using A/C. The highest coolant temp was 84 C (183 F) and most of the time it stayed right at 83 C (181 F). I was surprised that even with the grille cover the ICE stayed so cool. This makes me wonder what other users see. I was debating taking the grille cover off for our road trip because of being concerned about ICE temps driving through the Rockies, but now I'm thinking that the ICE stays cool with it on and am wondering what would happen if I took it off. This makes me think that if I took it off the ICE would be even cooler...so I'm curious what others see for their coolant temp according to ET Mode or ScanGauge and if there's additional data that the ScanGauge can provide about this. Thanks!

[GrySql]

86F ambient, A/C on, highway speeds, a max of 195F showing in ET Mode.

[rjent]

I would imagine that you are seeing thermostat temp control. Not all thermostats are created exactly the same and since yours seems to be consistent, you are just seeing the thermo doing it's job. Remember as you go through the mountains, the air gets thin. It doesn't have the ability to "stay" on the radiator as long and therefore won't cool as well. Just something to think about....

[hybridbear]

Also, absolutely no reason not to use grille cover even on summer highway drives on flat ground. It's 80 degrees and sunny and we've had A/C on since the beginning and the coolant temp hasn't exceeded 85 C according to ET Mode that I've seen. The coolant temp actually gets warmer in city driving in this heat than on freeway. In the city I've seen it reach 90 C on hot days. Thanks for the comments. I'll continue to watch this as we go through the mountains next week on our travels and share what we find. I do have a cutting tool we can use to remove it if needed

[acdii]

Too late now, but I should have sent you the Scanguage for your trip. Dang it. Would love to have known how it does.

[brcd131]

In the winter (that's TX winter or about 40-50 Deg. F day), my normal coolant temp was 182 Deg. F (83 Deg. C) and now in the summer (95 Deg. F day) I'm seeing 186 Deg. F (86 Deg. C) coolant temp. This is with the ScanGauge. These temps are with the ICE running and at about 65 MPH. In city driving with the system shuttling in and out of EV mode, the ICE runs a bit hotter like in the 190s. I have no grill cover and have no idea what the shutters are doing.

[hybridbear]

Yesterday on our drive from Calgary to Edmonton I watched for more than an hour of the drive using ET Mode and the coolant temp went up to 96 C (205 F) yesterday and stayed there. I'm debating taking off the grille cover now... I will watch it more during our drive today to Grande Prairie.

[acdii]

Actually it would be a good idea to remove it to see if the aerodynamics change any. If you loose MPG with it off, that would be a sure sign tht the grill cover is helping smooth out the air flow and reducing drag enough to gain a couple MPG like others reported when having them on.

 

When I make the new set, I may drill some 3" holes and make sliding doors to cover them up, so the air flow can be regulated.

[hybridbear]

I took it off after we arrived in Grande Prairie last night. Our next big drive will be Monday through to Rocky Mountains down to Vancouver, BC.

 

One thing I noticed is that when I would turn the AC on the coolant temp would drop significantly. I believe I remember hearing that the grille shutters open when the AC is on regardless of engine temp. This could explain the temperature drop from 96 C to 83 C cruising on the highway if the grille shutters are opening when the AC is turned on while they were otherwise closed even with a coolant temp of 96 C

[acdii]

Curious to see how the MPG plays out now that you took it off.

 

BTW how is it looking now that it has some miles on it, has the plastic held up well? Just wondering if I should get the more expensive plastic, or use what I got.

[hybridbear]

Curious to see how the MPG plays out now that you took it off.

 

BTW how is it looking now that it has some miles on it, has the plastic held up well? Just wondering if I should get the more expensive plastic, or use what I got.

The plastic has help up great. It's dirty but otherwise looks like new

[acdii]

The plastic has help up great. It's dirty but otherwise looks like new

Cool I will make a couple more with what I have, if your breaks, let me know and I will send another one

 

:) gives me an excuse to buy another RC plane kit :)