I've finally got the car I've wanted for so many years a mk4 turbo cabriolet only thing is it runs very hot in traffic and on tick over it is a little up and down not a smooth tick over like I've always known them to be it is a 2.1 zvh if this helps can supply engine spec if needed but would really appreciate some help advice ;--) don't want my 1st rs to go wrong so please
Help

 

are your fans defo working? plenty engine coolant im no expert tho others on here will sort you out

 

Yep both fans work and it's definatly got plenty of water in not sure if it's coolant as it's a bailey header tank so may do a flush and fill with fresh coolant and a fresh oil change as hasn't been done for a while so I was told but oil looks fine no water mixing with it fans kick in when the temp gets to the n on the temp gauge and don't really seem to get the temp down

 

It seems to get hot when standing still or when driving and only cools down when coasting or out of gear at speed the really worrying thing for me is it's not even hot weather and it gets really hot

 

Leave it idling and see if the fans come on and then go off once cooled enough, if they don't you have issues, I wouldn't rely on the gauge accuracy though, the difference between half way on the gauge and 3/4 for example can be only a few degrees, so looks a lot worse than it is.
Got alloy rad vents etc all these help.
tabetha

 

Update guys right took a few breather pipes of full of gunk so cleaned them out and idles much better also done oil and filter my god that was black done a rad flush water was fine really got some holt rad lime scale cleaner gonna do that tomorrow then put some antifreeze in after that but still gets really hot well on the gauge goes up to the top of the n fans kick in then go of I've also noticed that it seems to get hotter when driving then sitting still I've also got a pro alloy rad with twin fans but to be honest the rad is very close to the turbo could this be a reason for it to be getting so hot and this is when driving sensible anything under 30mph anything over it seems to cool down and stay low on the temp gauge

 

I've come to the conclusion it only does it when sitting still or in traffic or parked up ticking over is this normal or should I be worried

 

Yours fans cycle ok so this shows the temperature to be ok, as said the gauges aren't brilliant but they do give a rough indication (It may just be a iffy sender).

Any water cooled engine left idling long enough will overheat due to insufficient airflow, this is the reason for the fans, the gauge should not however creep up with the fans running it should actually decrease.

Good idea changing fluids always good to do on a car you don't know history of next time it may be worth 'Reverse Flushing' the system as well.

Martin

 

Nice 1 thanks for the help/advice reverse flush what's that then

 

Put a hose in the system and send water the opposite way round the system from normal

 

ok ill give this a go cheers