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I'd guess everyone here probably knows that I've been having some minor problems with engine temps out here in the southern California desert.
With summer daytime highs in the 120's, my little PV544 just wasn't up to staying cool if I had to sit in traffic more than a minute or two. I believe that the Volvo temperature gauge is pessimistic, reading 'Hot' when the car isn't actually anywhere near boiling. I'd prefer a pessimistic gauge that reads high to an optimistic one that reads low - at least where engine heat is concerned!
When I got the car it had an aftermarket temp gauge installed under the dash because the capillary tube was cut off the stock temp gauge. A quick look through eBay got me a good temp gauge, but it's always read at the high end of the middle range, and when stopped in traffic, the needle would practically shoot up to the max.
Monday I received a 13-1/2 inch stainless steel flex fan, and it took me only two days to get it installed. Luckily, the fan hub was far enough from the radiator so I was able to get the fan off without too much disassembly!
ANYWAY, I finally got the thing back in, torqued down, and I gave it a test drive for about an hour.
The driving temp indication is now about 1/8 lower than with the old 4-blade stock fan, and it only got up to the old 'normal' reading at the top of the normal range while sitting at idle for 5 minutes.
So far so good. I think I've beaten that problem into submission!
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