[Singh]

Operating Temperature
I have just purchased a new Touareg V6 180. Have done 4500km now. I recently towed our caravan which is not big 15' to South Australia a one day 800km trip approx. it was a warm day 37c degrees plus. I noticed the temperature gauge that always sat at 90 degrees continually fluctuated between 90 and 105 (still in the normal range but at the high end). I have never experienced this with my other tow vehicles (Land Rover discovery & Nissan Pathfinder). I was towing at 100kph. The car was fantastic and did the job with ease, but I have a question re the temp gauge movement. Is this normal? Have other owners who tow experienced this. The manual does say the vehicles operating temp will be effected by outside ambient temperatures. Advice from the technical people at the VW dealership say this is normal, but as I have said I have not owned a vehicle that has had the temp gauge continually go up and down like this? I would appreciate feedback from others who may have experienced this. As I purchased the Touareg primarily for a tow vehicle and will probably being towing when the ambient temperature will be 35c plus often, I would like some assurance all is ok?

Normal

 

[Singh]

Actually can you confirm you are referring to oil temp not water temp?
Oil temp will move and is normal.
If water temp goes higher than 90 then you could have an issue

 

[Singh]

I am referring to the water/coolant temp. When towing after about 1 hour of driving the temp guage rose to about 105, then dropped, it then continued to do this constantly throughout the trip never really going beyond 105 approx. when I slowed to 60kph when going through a town it fell quickly to 90, and soon after when accelerating to 100 kph it soon repeated the fluctuation between 90 - 105. The VW technical advice was that this was normal and that the thermostat was opening and closing as expected and the fans were cutting in. The reason I raise the question is that our current van is a light pop top and we are considering a larger full size 17' van that wil be heavier all round (tow ball and ATM) for our loop of Australia, when it is highly likely the outside temp like on this rip could be quite warm. Thanks for all the feedback to date.

Well that is not normal, water temp from my experience and knowledge should not rise above 90. Thats from12 years of experience across three touaregs.
I would change the cts, thermostat and water body and or pump