Running temperature

[cadoc1]

1998 1.8T Automatic A3

Hello,
What is the normal running temp. of the car ?
Only asking as after, say, a 10 mile run and I'm waiting at traffic lights, the temperature seems to rise significantly (but not overheating).
Whilst I'm at a standstill and running, I get a bit of a fumy/petrol smell through the air/heater outlets.
Once I'm driving away, the temperature drops back off and the fumy smell disappears.
Can anyone specify a problem ?
I've also noticed that the radiator fan 30A fuse (F16) is missing from the dashboard fusebox. Is this significant ?
Thanks.

[sgillwald]

Hello Cadoc,
It sounds like your fan isn't running and the car is relying fully on the cold air to cool the engine (you'll need to get yourself some new fuses) the best option is to have the car running (after putting in a new fuse) and let it reach normal operatin temp and when the gauge reaches halfway thats when the fan(s) should fire up and you'll know then that they are running correctly.

[cadoc1]

Thanks for that - I'll give it another check.
I did buy a new fuse but then noticed that there doesn't appear to be the connections in the fuse space for the fuse to plug into (perhaps there isn't supposed to be a fuse placed here for my model ?).
The temperature doesn't go above 90º when I'm stopped (e.g. in traffic) but I've noticed that most of the time the gauge is reading 60º or less when I'm under normal running conditions.
Is this the norm ?

P.S. the fume problem was caused by a broken breather pipe that I've fixed.