Hi everybody,

As a relatively new Crossfire owner, I've started to worry about the engine feeling very hot, particularly after short, commuter-type journeys (of about 11 miles) involving some queueing traffic. When I say "the engine feeling very hot", I mean that the bonnet feels hot to the touch, but there is nothing out of the ordinary to see when I open it and look at the engine itself. Temp gauge appears to be working and oil and coolant levels look normal. Car was serviced by a Chrysler main dealer recently and they couldn't find anything amiss.

As I've not owned a car with an engine anything like as big as a Crossfire's, I've no experience of something like this. Is it normal for a car with such a large engine to do this and am I worrying needlessly?

 

If the temp gauge is showing normal and you hear the the electric fan start up and go off now and again there are no probs - that's the only way to tell everything is ok. If you start it up and just leave it idling for a while, you will hear the fan start up. Also it may just be worth checking coolant level. But if no warning lights on, other than that - have fun!

Have you checked out www.ukcrossfires.co.uk and seen details of our Crossfire meets? Next meet 18th July Brooklands, meeting at Mercedes Benz World at 11.00!

Cheers

Steve

 

duplicated

 

Big engines produce more heat. What your seeing seems normal to me. With the engine being a 'V' engine, you have two exhaust manifolds, these get very hot and therefore give off lots of heat.

Provided you check your fluid levels on a fairly regular basis (weekly would suffice) then you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

 

heheheh...sorry. big engine.
3.2 is what I think of as fairly small, with the supercharger I am impressed.

I am used to the v8 so anything under 5.7 or 6.1, I think of as kinda small.

Yes the compartment is sealed off pretty well and it does keep the heat contained. It is normal.

Enjoy the Crossfire!

 

The luxury of cheap gas across the pond.

You would need a mortgage to run a 6.1 litre V8 over here.

 

The luxury of cheap gas across the pond.

You would need a mortgage to run a 6.1 litre V8 over here.

AGREED - We also have VAT at 17.5% (soon to be 20%) added on, as well as "fuel duty" !
We also have "Road Tax" now at £400 per year on Crossfires made in 2006
onwards due to their "heavy" emissions !

Insurance is another problem. Us law abiding drivers are having to pick up the costs of the many uninsured drivers in the UK. I've just been quoted a premium of £2000 for my 21 year old son to drive a 1400cc Fiesta!

Hence there are not many big V8's around in the UK. You have to be wealthy, maybe a member of parliament with an expense account, or a drug dealer to be able to afford to run one here as a daily ride.

As a result, cars here seem to have very small engines of around 1000cc (1Litre) and many folks regard a 1.6 Litre car as a big.

 

Hi Bazzer

Have a look at the big brother of the Xfire , Slk 55 amg the book says 30 mpg i can get 28 mpg no problem , As long as i drive like me gran ,



Marting
On the hot engine subject do not forget heat raises , so the heat is still coming out the engine after you have stopped , Back in the day i had a Sunbeam Tiger V8 4.2 & that would boil the coolant after you have parked up & walked away .

Cheers

Andy (soon to be Xfireless )

 

We are seeing the push for smaller engines here as well but not quite that small. Gas prices are decent right now, $3/gal for premium 93 octane as of today.

Chrysler (Fiat) 500 is supposed to be just arriving, the Ford Fiesta, GM is working on the Spark.
Just don't know, I am looking forward to the Challenger with the 6.4 and the rumored limited run with the 8.4 litre - now that would be interesting.
Gas guzzler taxes seem to start kicking in at around the 6.0 mark which can be a $2000 penalty at purchase, so there are "hits".

I have the Magnum SRT8 with the 6.1 and driven on the highway can get 20+ mpg at 70 mph, so actually it does pretty well. Don't drive it much with a 90 mile commute.

Any opinions on the 500? I am sure you have at least seen them on a regular basis. Think they will do well or are they trouble?

Just looked at the twin to that SLK55 today...how does it comare to the xf since you have both?

 

Hi

I just wish that this could have been the Xfire upgrade (Xfire 2)with the V8 noise & the top in the boot(sorry trunk) , i can see why Startec put the V8 in there Xfire , With the 55 its auto only but that is a very very small minus , overal it is a step up from the Xfire & i do not think i could go back . One thing you get less looks in the Slk than the Xfire .


Cheers

Andy

 

Get ready for phase two of the recession.

Emigrating to the US is looking more and more attractive.

 

Quite possibly my next car...................




Unless the tax man screws the economy up and double the price of gas then I'll have to settle for......






Sorry, none of the above has anything to do with a hot engine..

 

I noticed the heat after I had mine for a while, and hadn't had a car that powerful before. You can also feel it "radiating out" as you walk behind the car when parking up. All enegy ( more or less) is turned into heat ultimately and the more power the engine produces the more heat it gives out.

 

gentlemen...while in St. Louis for the CAA event...I drove in 98 degree heat, in traffic to the track...within a half hour or so, I was doing a lap on the track...ended up running 3 laps. I knew my power would be down..since I had driven around earlier, before leaving for the track...the power was down some due to heat soak..the heat index was 110 degrees...the track surface was very hot. My little roadster did fine the whole time...never over heated, never let me down. My times could have been a little better had I chose to let some air out of the tires, but not knowing whether I could find a place to air up, I choose to leave them alone and slide a little bit...that car proved to me that day it can handle just about anything...no need to worry about the heat...she can take it...my temp needle never went passed the middle mark more than a needle width the whole time.