Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Temperature tricks

MY 1989 Nissan Skyline has done 260,000km. I've owned it from new, and on hot days the temperature needle goes to the top of the gauge with or without the airconditioning on. Fitting dual Dayco fans has made no difference. I believe it is a common problem. The coolant has been changed and the radiator flushed many times.

THE SKYLINE never had a cooling problem, unlike the VL Commodore, which used the same engine and was very troublesome. The problem is related to installation of the engine, not the engine itself. In the Skyline it was a gem. You say the temperature goes up but not whether the engine overheats, so I assume it doesn't. It's quite normal on the Skyline for the gauge to swing, depending on the temperature of the day or the load on the engine, and as long as it doesn't go all the way to the H mark, there shouldn't be a problem. If it does go to the very top, I'd expect you to have signs of overheating, so I guess what you see is normal.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Comments

Have a new question for the CarsGuide team?
More than 9,000 questions asked and answered.
Complete guide to Nissan Skyline 1989
Complete guide to Nissan Skyline 1989 CarsGuide Logo
Reviews, price, specs and more