Is it normal for the Jetta's water temperature to always be at 50 degrees Celsius?
3 Answers
When the car is running normally, the normal reading of the water temperature gauge should be between 70 and 90 degrees. The impact of high water temperature on the car: The expansion of engine components will reduce the clearance between parts, increasing engine wear; it will lower the viscosity of the engine oil, leading to increased wear on various parts and reducing the engine's lifespan; damage to the cylinder gasket may cause cross-flow between the water, oil, and air passages on the gasket, allowing oil to enter the radiator and water to mix with the engine oil. Solutions for high water temperature: Check if the thermostat's opening is insufficient. If the thermostat's opening is too small at normal temperatures, it will slow down the circulation of the engine's cooling water, causing high water temperature at low speeds. Check if the water pump is experiencing cavitation. The Jetta's water pump impeller is made of plastic, and if the shaft cracks, it can cause cavitation when the water temperature is high, leading to elevated water temperature.
I've been driving my Jetta for over a decade, and a 50°C coolant temperature is definitely problematic. Normally after warming up, the temperature gauge should point to the middle around 90°C - at 50°C you can't even get proper warm air from the heater. This is most likely caused by a stuck thermostat keeping the coolant in constant circulation and overcooling the engine. Alternatively, the coolant temperature sensor might be malfunctioning and sending false readings. Prolonged low-temperature operation is particularly harmful to engines - the oil thickens like syrup causing poor lubrication, while incomplete fuel combustion leads to heavy carbon buildup. My advice: observe the temperature gauge for 10 minutes after cold start. If it doesn't budge, get it checked immediately. The most direct method is using an OBD scanner to read actual coolant data. Replace the thermostat assembly promptly if faulty - it's a small expense that prevents major repairs.
This temperature is truly abnormal. Just like the human body needs a constant 37°C, our car's engine operates healthily at a coolant temperature of 90°C. If it's stuck at 50°C, there's an 80% chance the thermostat is stuck in the normally open position, causing the coolant to continuously circulate through the large cooling loop and dissipate too much heat. It could also be a faulty coolant temperature sensor giving false readings. I remember one time during winter when I was driving on the highway and the coolant temperature wouldn't rise, resulting in nearly 2 liters/100km higher fuel consumption. Later, I found out it was caused by low-quality antifreeze - the impurities had jammed the thermostat. Now whenever I encounter abnormal coolant temperature, the first thing I check is the coolant color. If it's cloudy, I replace it entirely. Don't hesitate to spend a hundred bucks - if you end up with cylinder scoring, you'll be looking at a 5,000-6,000 yuan major repair.
