i replaced my tstat and engine runs to proper temp until about 70 - 75mph. then the temp gauge drops. the temperture up here has been in the 10 - 20s F. but i would have thought a properly running max could handle that. im new to the frigid north, does anybody else have problems keeping up engine temp. in cold weather at higher speeds?

 

Calculate the windchill effect at 75mph and you'll see why the gauge drops

 

mine does that dwn here, itll be running warm at midrange on the temp gauge, then when i get on the fwy it drops to a quarter on the gauge. its been about 30/40 degrees here

 

yeah the windchill has been -10 to -35 or so. so you think that is normal? i guess i can put some cardboard in front of the radiator so i dont freeze.

 

thats what I did and it works great for me

 

Hmmm. I've owned '94 GXE for 10 years now, and don't remember seeing the gauge drop any noticeable amount, even in the recent cold weather in New England (single digits to teens). Mine sits just below 9PM, maybe a notch or two away at most. I'd have to guess 8:45-8:50 range, certainly higher than 8:30pm.

On my other car (Volvo), my temp. gauge showed the exact same symptom as yours until I replaced the t-stat. Now, it never budges either way once warmed up, even when I go fast on highway on cold days (consistent with Maxima).

Putting up a cardboard is a bandaid fix, not a cure, I have to say. Sorry, I don't have much clue as to what could be wrong, especially if you already replaced it with a good t-stat.

 

could it be an elictronic fan switch that goes on at certain speed? temp. gauge changes suddenly at about 75mph. i really don't want just a bandaid fix. id love to get it right.

 

Windchill only affects animate or living things.

 

not entirely accurate, the windchill also affects the rate of thermal dispersion on the radiator as well

 

http://wvec.exis.net/knowledge/windchill-efx.htm

 

Real world education:
To every rule there are exceptions.
and the whole purpose of a radiator is to exchange heat and it works more efficiently with wind blowing over it.

 

i think you're right because why else would there be a radiator fan to run when it is hot? im just wondering if the fan comes on automatically at a certain speed or rpm. just a guess

 

radiator fan is controled by a thermostatic switch, to turn on at a certain temp and turn off at a certain temp.

 

Hey, I had the same problem with my Max. Less than a year ago, I replaced my thermostst with a t-stat from Autozone, big mistake!! It was $10. and I normally would go to Nissan and get one, but I needed one fast, so I went to Autozone. POS!! About 2 months ago when driving on the hi-way, just like you above 75mph, my temp gauge would drop almost down to cold, when I slowed down, it gradually went back up, and around town it was fine. Heat was warm, but not hot. I called my friend the Nissan Master Tech and said it was the t-stat, and get OEM!!! Not some $10. Autozone POS!! The one from Nissan was like $25. and he replaced it this past Monday night and I drove all the way home on the hi-way for about 45 minutes above 75mph and the temp gauge didn't move a bit! He took the Autozone one out and it was stuck open! Getting aftermarket crap isn't worth it, get OEM and be done with it. My friend told me I'll probably never have to replace it again as long as I own the car. Hope this helped.
Jeff

 

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thanks jeff i bet your right cuz i got mine from autozone too! ill get the oem one and see how it goes. my aunt lives in your town maybe ill see you driving around. anyway i might wait till it warms up around here. its killing me working on the car when its this cold!

 

Was it the auto zone brand? I almost got that one but it was it wasn't failsafe or reverse opening, instead it was the kind that would get stuck closed and overheat.

 

they only had one in stock so i din't check. i had to replace it right away because the old one wasnt working on the hwy at any speed but i am going to get a good one soon. i assume the oem fails open.

 

Hey what's up? Are you the black SE with small purple colored driving lites on the front? I don't know. Anyway, we both had the same exact symptoms, so the POS Autozone t-stat has got to be the problem. My heat is so hot it practically drives me out! Doing the t-stat on this car sucks, that's why I don't. Always go with Nissan quality parts. You pay twice as much, but the part lasts twice as long. That'a a fact man. People think they're saving money when buying Autozone parts or whatever because they're half the price, but last half the time!! Flag me down if you see me. TTYL Good luck.

 

How many "O.E." parts do you think that nissan makes themselves?
Especially for a minimum 10 year old car.
You just have to be careful about the quality of the part you are getting as there are a lot of **** brands out there.
There also a few brands that are equivelant to O.E. or better and in many casse they are the OE just without the name stamped on it.

 

no thats not me, i wouldn't ever put anything purple on my car i live in arlington and i just got up here, haven't been to pepperell yet. btw my tstat was really pretty easy to get at which is why i wont hessitate to change it again with a better one.