Hi everyone

I know its Winter but my 2007 v6 is running a lot cooler than usual..the needle stays below the bottom of the guage for 5 min or more then slowly creeps up to a 1/3rd of the scale. It used to be 1/2 way. Also not as much heat through the vents.. I suspect thermostat but it was only changed last year. Any help out there?  She still is whisper quiet and runs like a dream. Should I be worried?

Check coolant levels in radiator, top it up till you cannot get anymore in. Then you should be getting heat out of the vents

Hi Mike, thanks your advice, will try that today.👍

I recall along time ago going over the tubes of the cooling system (of a totally different car) squeezing them to make sure the water moves around - obviously you don't want the radiator to be absolutely full at this point unless you like it bubbling out.

Other items:

check the tension of the water pump belt,

you could try laying a sheet under the car and see if there are any water drips in case it's leaking out somewhere.

It would be nice to check whether the water pump itself is working effectively but I don't know of a way.

Get a sheet of cardboard or something and put it over the front of the radiator and see whether it makes a difference.

Hi guys!

If it's not getting hot enough, then, as you intimated, it could well be the thermostat even though it was changed.

Try this -

After a drive, or not, if you sit with it stationary, with the heater off will speed up the experiment, maybe a slightly fast idle speed, and see if it will then get hot, and hot enough to bring in the radiator cooling fans.

If it does, quite possibly the thermostat. 

I had a Ford Galaxy 2007 1.8 diesel that would not get over around 65C, even with most of the rad blocked off. Never did figure it out.

 

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Thanks for all the tips. It rained all day today so I will investigate more in the next few days.

Sunny morning today, ran through all the tips above, no airlock, fluid levels perfect,  bottom hose hot but maybe no hot enough?  Didn't reach high enough temp for fan to cut in so I think it must be a faulty stat...stuck open a little. Will order a new one & report back. Thanks for all the advice.

Happy Xmas to all the Alphie's out there🎄

Hope a new stat sorts it for you mate!

Merry Christmas one and all!!