Engine running too hot in warm weather on highway

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Engine running too hot in warm weather on highway

By teal_dx
- Fri Jul 23, 2010 4:59 pm #205944 This happened for the first time about 6 weeks ago, and has happened again twice in the last 2 weeks.
When it is around 90°F outside and I'm driving on the highway at a steady 3000 to 3500 rpm, the Hondata S300 throws a CEL 11 which is triggered by the Temperature sensor (below the alternator) reading 220°F

When this happens the S300 puts the car into a limp mode which cuts the engine out once it starts building boost. Turn the key off and back on and the CEL is gone until next time, or soon if I am still doing highway driving.
(I'm not in boost most of the time on the highway)

My EGT gauge never gets above 1200°F, the sensor is mounted on the downpipe about 4-5" after the turbo. Since the EGT temps are normal, that doesn't point to running lean.

The coolant temp gauge has never gone higher than a little under half way.
Since the coolant temps are not high, I'm assuming it is not anything that can be fixed by upgrading the radiator, fan, or installing a cooler thermostat.
And it's happening on the highway where there's plenty of air flow.

Plugs are NGK 4554, heat range 8.

Only thing I can think of is that it was a night in Oct the last time we had it on the dyno.

Maybe because it was so much cooler outside the last time it was on the dyno and now it's hotter out and that's causing this to happen?

BTW, car is only tuned up to 5k rpm and then fuel cuts off because we didn't finish last time, so I need to get it back on the dyno anyways.
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By Classiccarsrule85
- Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:48 pm #205952 im wondering if by chance there was a semi heavy traffic setting? like not heavy as in slow bumper to bumper but enough to where even though its 90 out the road is alot hotter making everything else in the vicinity of said road hotter......air flows nice as always but when its 90 out and the air is mixed in with road heat which is a hotter temp than the air more than likely that air flow really wasnt cooling much of anything down....

but thats just my theory do with it what you wish but yea thats the problem with the outside world beyond the garage a shiton o variables.....

By VerLee24
- Fri Jul 23, 2010 7:15 pm #205967 i'd start with datalogging your trips to see if you can get it to happen again so you have more info to work with.
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By d-mon
- Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:19 pm #205996 pardon my ignorance, but what motor?
NGK BKR7e-11 is the plug of choice for turbo d16's
other than that, i blame sunspots.
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By d-mon
- Sat Jul 24, 2010 4:14 am #206064
teal_dx wrote:Motor is a D16z6 :thumb:

my favorite motor :)
have you tried the bkr7e's?
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