Thank a lot guys.
This is something that's been going on for some time now. Picking up on what Gerhard wrote, the thermostat is working, and the flap opens with the high temp. As well, I've already checked the intake hose, and shove my hand down inside to check if there was something inside or if the fan was loose, both negative. To add to my puzzlement, it doesn't seem to make a difference, when I drive it with that bracket to keep the engine lid partly open. The same is true, for summer or winter conditions, being the only difference, the time it takes the temp to rise.
About the timing, for the spark plug, mine is electronic, so I'm not sure how to change this. Could it be related to valve clearance? My car was fully reconditioned in Poland before I brought it to Portugal (more or less 3 years ago), and I haven't check the valve clearance since then (I don't even know how much the clearances are
).
The oil I'm using now is 5w40 synthetic, from a Portuguese brand. Before was 10w40 semi-synthetic and the problem was the same. My first idea regarding this synthetic oil was that it flows a lot better on cold start up, but remains with a good viscosity at running temp. However, I've considered changing to a higher viscosity oil like 20w50, with the running oil temp as it is.
I think I read somewhere that some version of the cooling fan have less fins, and therefore have less cooling efficiency, can anyone confirm this?
I'm definitely going to buy a aluminum alloy sump, because I believe that it's heat dissipating characteristic is worthwhile. I was just wondering if some one had one like it, and what they thought of it. The one I'm looking in to is:
http://www.fiat500sport.com/special-offers/nanni-light-alloy-sump-with-central-air-crossing-way-for-fiat-500-126-0270.htmlI also thought about, wrapping up the exhaust pipes with thermal tape to reduce the heat on the engine compartment, but I guess it won't make much of a difference, otherwise keeping the lid open would do the trick.
On the post from 1973/126 I noticed that your car has the combustion air intake, separated from the discharge from the fan. This is something that I considered doing, more so, to increase the amount of air, available for cooling, (since the combustion air is no longer drawn from the fan). Are there kits to this transformation available for sale online?
The funny thing is that during the time the temp gauge was broken (a few months), I continued to drive it with no care in the world
, and I never had any problem, like oil warning light (for the oil getting to thin and pressure getting to low). Now that the gauge is ok again I fret with the idea of damaging the engine by overheating it.
From the beginning, the oil temp probe was incorrectly fitted, with a large protruding cooper pipe coming out of the oil dipstick. The temp reading was always around 100
oC, but I suspect the reading wasn't correct. After I had a major breakdown on a long voyage (exhaust system came apart), the probe was broken too. Only when I repaired it, did I notice this temp rise.