What are the normal coolant temps for stage 3?

[flyfishing]

What are the normal coolant temps for stage 3? I got a warning yesterday that said coolant temp high and it was at 224F. I am stage 3.

I checked and full of coolant and all fans running. I have CSF All Aluminum High Performance Radiator + SETRAB Oil Cooler + OEM RS4 Thermostatic Sandwich Plate. Also JHM electric fan.

I know stage 3 runs hotter, but how much hotter. I am in TX and I did do about 3 0-60 launches in a row.

[V1nny]

It really depends on driving. There is no reason for stage 3 to run any hotter under identical driving conditions, comparing to unmodified 2.7. I have basic stage 3 in my 01 allroad, and temperature stays around 200 degrees F most of the time (199 - 203 range). I saw 220 once last summer on extremely hot day, stuck in traffic for a long time with AC on. I have digital readout for engine vitals in place of cupholder. Even if you race your car coolant temperature should not exceed 220, if anything, oil temperature should be more of a concern under heavy load.

[flyfishing]

Thanks for the reply. I will keep an eye on the temps today and see what happens. I read there is a common problem with thermostat stuck open or closed.

[jbain2]

Rarely my coolant temps will hit 220. Most of the time around 210 +/- 5 degrees.

My oil temps around town when warm will be about the same but long highway trips cruising at 75 or so, my oil temps are 235ish. This is high and I am considering an external oil cooler.

I have a K04 setup on my 03.


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[flyfishing]

OK i will eval my car more and see what temps I hit.

[flyfishing]

ok my audi mechanic friend says 105 C is over heating. i drove around for 5 mins and it hit 200 F already.

[V1nny]

200F is normal, but 105C is 221F, so check your fans

[flyfishing]

This doesn’t look good after 10 mins of driving. Oil temp and coolant temp up


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[flyfishing]

I am in TX and it is hot as heck already. Close to 100. I drive with AC on all the time and had my JHM electric fan replaced recently. I have after market larger radiator and I feel like it is still too hot. Right now with new fan, I drive around for 20 mins and my color gauge says 216F for coolant.

Which gauge do I trust more? The color display or the OEM cluster gauge on top? My color MFA always shows a hotter outdoor temp than typical. And for example the pic above shows 228 for coolant and oil temp, but see the OEM gauge above barely shows over 190.

See also my gauge from the other day. I feel like oem gauge should move more if that is the true temp in mfa. The gauge temp does show 0 when the car is off and will move as the car heats up so it should be working.

[jbain2]

The color MFA and the cluster input are reading from different points. They will display different temps. Essentially pre and post radiator values.


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[flyfishing]

so what is more important to me to evaluate if my car is overheating?

the cluster gauge?

[V1nny]

What temperature color MFA shows when you just start cold car? I think it should be close to ambient temperature, or I would not trust it.

[flyfishing]

What temperature color MFA shows when you just start cold car? I think it should be close to ambient temperature, or I would not trust it.

I’ll report back tonight when I test the car!


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[flyfishing]

Ok here are my pics.

First is at start up. Temps look like ambient temps. Ambient is 88 rt now. Then 1 min later then like 6 mins later.

Do these seem right?








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[flyfishing]

anyone know?

[chris86vw]

I would idle car ac off until you can confirm the fans are coming on. The car sitting idle with no AC and fans working right should probably end up a little over 200, these cars get hot. 105c would be about 220f and I'd agree that while these cars can hit that easily it is getting a little hot at that point. If you over heat sitting with no AC then there is a problem somewhere.


I'm 99% sure the gauge and vcds readings/mfa are the same as the radiator outlet sensor is not a sensor just a switch so unless I'm forgetting something there's only the one coolant temp sensor at the back of the left bank. But the needle is damped to show a 20-30f range depending on model.


A stage 3 just driving around won't run hotter than a bone stock car. Even repeated runs of full throttle would only result in an almost immeasurable increase.


Depending on size and location of the extra oil cooler it could be hurting you, there's now 200+ degrees from the oil cooler being sucked through 200+ degrees of condenser before getting to radiator. I doubt that's the problem but something to consider.

Is your jhm fan wired to come on with the low speed or high speed trigger of the stock passenger side aux fan? I'd make sure it's wired to low speed to better mimic the stock mechanical fan.

That aluminum radiator also may not be helping as much as it seems like it should,. It hurting most likely just not helping. The dimensions are the same as the automatic radiators so it really doesn't add any cooling mass. Not sure If the 3 row really has much of an advantage.


Overcharged ac can also cause increased pressure and condenser temps to go up, if that's combined with a fan not working you'll overheat for sure.

[dualaudi]

Hey Flyfishing, i have the same ColorMFA and same upgraded gauges. I think the 190 needle is slightly off on the print or needle calibration (that's how i feel mine is anyway) - or just not accurate with the needle because 165F digital is barely below 190 on the needle for me.

I was driving in 105F-110F (outside temps) up a mountain pass and I hit 225F (digital) for coolant. That worried me so I turned heater on and rolled windows down and it dropped to about 205deg. Oil temps rose to 230-240 at one point.

I think boiling point for coolant is 250-260. I wouldn't worry to much under 220, but definitely for me I don't want to drive above 220F for any length of a time in my stage 3 allroad.

[flyfishing]

Thanks for the comments. I asked the shop and they said the JHM fan is wired for summer and not winter environments.

I tested my car with no ac on. First is cold startup. Then I let it idle for 15 mins with no ac on and ran around the block. Temps are below 200.

Third pic is with ac on. Temps rise over 200 rt away. Fan was off when ac off and immediately turned on when ac on.

I’m guessing this car just gets super hot in Texas weather. I had a b5 s4 and I never noticed it getting hot like this....but that car only had the cluster gauge.








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[chris86vw]

When you turn the AC on are all 3 fans on?

[flyfishing]

When you turn the AC on are all 3 fans on?

I will check. I know the main jhm fan comes on for sure and is loud.


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[flyfishing]

I have confirmed all 3 fans (jhm in front of radiator) and 2 fans behind it run when ac is turned on.

When an off, all 3 are off (this was after a cold start).


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[flyfishing]

I drove it with 3 hard runs after getting gas in near 100 degrees. It climbed to 210 and then I turned ac down from max to midway. Then I noticed temps dropped to below 210z

I think it’s just hot and full ac makes it hard to keep car cool. I’ll try running ac below max to see what happens.




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[flyfishing]

Ok did more testing today. The high coolant temps likely has to do with super hot and full ac. If I back ac off and don’t sit in traffic or idle, the temps go down to closer to like 205.

I also washed the fins on the radiators and it helped a little I think. Car was from Nevada and went off road and prob dusty there. Like ac guy tells me to clean ac unit every once in a while, prob can’t hurt for radiator fins either.


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[rgtorque]

2 2.7t allroads here. normal temps with the fancy cluster rear 195-225 on the regular with occasional spikes. after fighting this issue and beating my head against the wall (you can search my user name) i was told sub 240 is a-ok. a year later, both cars run fine.

[flyfishing]

2 2.7t allroads here. normal temps with the fancy cluster rear 195-225 on the regular with occasional spikes. after fighting this issue and beating my head against the wall (you can search my user name) i was told sub 240 is a-ok. a year later, both cars run fine.

AHHHH OK GOOD TO KNOW AND THANKS!@!!!!!!!

[V1nny]

paying that much for a fancy screen that cannot even show accurate temperature does not make sense

[rgtorque]

paying that much for a fancy screen that cannot even show accurate temperature does not make sense

lol what? screen shows super accurate temps. it can show readings from both coolant temp sensors... its not like it guesses.

[flyfishing]

2 2.7t allroads here. normal temps with the fancy cluster rear 195-225 on the regular with occasional spikes. after fighting this issue and beating my head against the wall (you can search my user name) i was told sub 240 is a-ok. a year later, both cars run fine.

I searched through all your threads and posts and I couldn't find the thread you were referencing!

[rgtorque]

I think it was on Quattroworld. I'll find it. Long story short though, Temps under 240 for coolant was ok.

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[jbain2]

I have a color MFA on my K04 allroad. My coolant temps usually sit between 210-215, though can get as high as 220. My oil temps driving around town once warm are usually 220-225 and reach 235-240 driving on the highway for extended periods.


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[flyfishing]

I have a color MFA on my K04 allroad. My coolant temps usually sit between 210-215, though can get as high as 220. My oil temps driving around town once warm are usually 220-225 and reach 235-240 driving on the highway for extended periods.


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thanks. what is your typical ambient temp?

i'm in ~100 degree temps rt now and with my fan replacement, i am going up to 215 or so in idle traffic.

[jbain2]

thanks. what is your typical ambient temp?

i'm in ~100 degree temps rt now and with my fan replacement, i am going up to 215 or so in idle traffic.

I’m in Virginia, so not Texas but warm enough. We routinely see 90’s through the summer months.


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