ABK engine running cold - normal?

Hi all,

This is mostly just to get some feedback from anybody else owning an ABK-engined car.

No major issue, mine works and drives nicely. However I've only on the last MOT put two and two together - it always fails first time on the emissions test... Then we try again and the reading improves... Try again and third time lucky, it passes. it's always been like this. Putting two and two together meaning, the engine has to be running hot enough for the catalytic converter and lambda sensor to be working as they should and emissions giving the right reading - and we always need to 'heat up' my car sufficiently for it to pass on the emissions.

Because, it generally runs cold.

I've seen other forum posts where people changed sender units that appeared to give readings stuck at 60°C on the water temperature gauge, other on the contrary where it always went up to 105°C and stayed there; with the general conclusion that the senders can give false readings; the cars are likely running at the right temperature and if they're not boiling over, it's fine.

But, my gauge isn't stuck at 60° - it just takes quite a bit of doing to get it to reach 90°, at which point the fans kick in. So it does get to the right temperature, if revved the nuts off on a hot day or left running at idle for a while. But generally driving it hardly gets much beyond 60, and if it does, it normally stays fairly cool the whole time.

Again, I don't consider it a major issue as the car is otherwise quite reliable and not something I want to mess around with too much, unless the reason is nice and simple. That said, if the emissions are higher than they should be all the time the engine is colder than it should be, that does imply above-average fuel consumption and under-average performance.

So just out of curiosity - what temperatures do yours tend to run at? Anybody else's acting the same as mine?

It sounds to me that your thermostat is stuck open. You can get one HERE

Ah, that's quite possible - worth swapping out for such a small price :)