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Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:06 pm
by droodle
Hello stat experts ...
i've just had a mason fitted yesterday - and now my bongo gauge has gone from sitting @ 11am to this ...
this was after a 75mph blast down the mway
Now i don't really like this as its practically sitting @ max - do you think i should be fitting a gen mazda stat to bring it down substantially ?
thanks.
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:30 pm
by widdowson2008
Honest answer? Absolutely no idea.

There is no way of telling what temperature it is at, and don't let anbody tell you there is.
If your fans are kicking in, then then you are looking at the stat having lost control (coolant above 96 deg.C) and the fans have taken over.
However, if the fans stop after a short while (coolant temp dropped to 91deg.C), then the stat has regained control. (This is assuming that your fan switch is working properly.)
Need more information.
Did the needle drop at all after the motorway 'blast out'?
If you haven't experienced overheating/loss of coolant, then I would think, and I stress THINK, that you are OK.
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:38 pm
by mikexgough
droodle wrote:Hello stat experts ...
i've just had a mason fitted yesterday - and now my bongo gauge has gone from sitting @ 11am to this ...
this was after a 75mph blast down the mway
Now i don't really like this as its practically sitting @ max - do you think i should be fitting a gen mazda stat to bring it down substantially ?
thanks.
I have a Mason and my Mazzy gauge reads midway.(50% or 12 o'clock)....mine has only gone up to where your photo shows a) when checking fans are "kicking" in, so running the engine way hot & b) at last summers Hardknott Pass workout...
From what I see in your picture, purely my opinion, your standard gauge has been hiding a cooling system that needs some refreshing with a good flush and new coolant...I'd put a new 'stat in too but it's down to your budget...
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:46 pm
by droodle
I should have added - the bongo had a full service at the same time and the coolant was checked, the coolant was flushed out about 6 months ago and re-bled when i had a leak.
How long timewise should a stat change take ? thinking labour cost.
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:08 pm
by widdowson2008
Try again
Need more information.
1 - Did the needle drop at all after the motorway 'blast out'?
2 - Have you checked the coolant level since the service/coolant change? and if so, has it dropped?
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:53 pm
by bigdaddycain
That's a HIGH reading! I had mine at that level ONCE! On a really long ascent in Wales on a hot summers day, loaded to the Ginwalls, and labouring in lock up.

The alarm triggered. Did your mason alarm activate Droodle?
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:04 pm
by droodle
yep she chirped a fair bit .. but then it had never been set in the first place so i moved the dial until it stopped.
The gauge does come down a little when urban driving but not by much.
Bloody thing not only did i buy the alarm i paid to have it fitted - wish i never bothered, i haven't got the knowhow to remove it either .. give me back my 11oclock.
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:35 pm
by widdowson2008
Hi Droodle
I threw this together to try and explain sequence of system control events.
The stat control is OK. I need confirmation of the fan kick in temperatures, but generally, this is how things work (I theeeeeeeeeeenk

)

Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:33 pm
by Alacrity
Mine was getting this high after I fitted a Mason. If I was pulling hard uphill or towing & overtaking etc. I was never happy about it, but as you may have read the 'stat (a Blueprint one) was only about 12 months old - changed as a precaution. It ran like that all last summer, I did check the top hose with a laser thermometer once when the guage was high & the actual temp wasn't that high, although I can't remember the exact figure it did put my mind to rest - to a degree. The Mason would chirp quite often (never changed the setting from where it was when I bought it). I recently fitted a Mazda OE one & it now runs just fractionally above the upright position & climbs very slightly when pushed hard. Mason remains silent.
If I were you I would change the stat for a Mazda one & flush the system out at the same time.
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:31 pm
by Rhinoman
widdowson2008 wrote:Honest answer? Absolutely no idea.

There is no way of telling what temperature it is at, and don't let anbody tell you there is.
He could measure the temperature by measuring the voltage on the engine coolant temperature sensor. I'm sure that we can then translate that to a real temperature, maybe we need to come up with a chart/graph.
Re: Mazda thermostat - A few observations
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:45 pm
by mikexgough
Today at 17:10 ------- 22c outside on Lidl temp gauge and Mason modded Bongo temp gauge in heavy traffic..... midway well a smidge over but not enough to call it 12:30
