Temp sanity check
 

Looking for a sanity check on my x5’s cooling habits. I’m super gun-shy after the belt- throwing, overheating, middle of the night tow truck drama post motor swap. I never gave the temps a second thought when it was a factory 4.4i, now I worry all the time. Must have something to do with knowing the mechanic and his motor swap experience level!

Took the X out to Bay Saint Louis today to the beach. The drive is 99% highway, and all gulf south (flat). Nice day and not to hot. I saw 90 deg on the ambient temp at one point, but mostly 88 or so. On the way home I plugged in the foxwell and pulled up the engine and radiator outlet temps, the electric fan status and percent (ac was on) and MAP cooling status.

All the way home the motor outlet temp was between 210 and 225 deg, so as a results oriented guy, I should be happy. However, as an average mechanic I kept an eye on the radiator outlet temp. Most of the 70 mile drive had the radiator outlet temp at 145 +/- 10. However, sitting at the few stoplights on the way to the highway I saw upwards of 170, and after sitting at a stoplight and then accelerating up an uphill on ramp the radiator outlet temps hit 200. This seemed really high. I did hear the fan clutch on at this point. Up on the highway the temp dropped back down the 145.

I turned the AC off and watched the radiator outlet temps drop to 125. The highest the electric fan got for the entire drive was 40% for a second at a light. Most of the time it was below 30%. I never saw the MAP cooling commanded on.

Thanks for a sanity check gents.

I'd say that's normal, less airflow when standing still means the rad needs to be hotter to dump heat into the available air.