Torque and Chrome

Do Chrome Rims cause a higher car temperature?

I installed a set of 4 18' inch chrome MB Design CLS rims with Z rated tires and i noticed that when iam running on high speeds (70-100mph) the temperature gauge stick goes close to hitting 3/4 of the gauge...this didnt happen when i had the stock tires but my guess is that it the rims are heavy and it is putting more stress on the engine to speed up because it is not a big engine its a V4 2.4L everything stock except for exhaust. Are the rims causing the problem or is it that i need a engine or is it another problem? The car is an 01 Eclipse RS with 79K miles if that helps. Much appreciated yes when i slow down to like 50 the temperature goes back to the middle of the gauge, its only when iam going at fast speeds and no i rarely go at that speed, its only once a week because i have to take a highway

Public Comments

1. The rims may be heavier but it's very unlikely that they are the cause of thebhigher temperature. The cause may be realted to the speed at which the car is driven. Is 70 to 100 miles per hour the typical way the car is driven? If so then it is possible that your water pump may be showing signs that it is about to go. This is alright though, the water pump on that car should be replaced about every 60k miles. Replace it and the temperature should return to normal.
2. The only thing that I can think of is if you have had no problem before the change, and you have increased the size (diameter) of the rim e.g. 13's to 18's you are making the engine work a lot harder all of the time, also be very careful as it will effect your speedometer reading and you will be going a lot faster than indicated.
3. So you upgraded to 18" RIMS. That must mean that the outside diameter of the tires you're using now are bigger than the outside diameter of the stock tires. That means that you are actually going faster than what your speedometer says. Borrow someone's handheld GPS that gives an accurate sense of how fast you are really going so you can compare to your speedometer so you know what speed to go to avoid getting a ticket. The weight of the rims will have no effect on the engine's load while continuously driving the same speed. But since you are probably going faster than you think you are, more air is flowing through the radiator, but that isn't enough to make up for the extra wind resistance from the higher speed, that is putting a huge load on the engine, making it get hotter faster than the radiator can cool it. -or- it could be unrelated - something else happened at about the same time you put the new rims on that is making it overheat. Is your water pump and thermostat working okay? After driving at a high speed and the engine is warmer than usual, don't slow down too quickly if you can help it. Slow down gradually to normal highway speeds in the highest gear to allow the engine to cool to a normal level.
4. yes, that would be your problem. people come in the shop all the time wondering why there transmission is having problem and it is because it is constantly having to turn heavier rims. We do not warranty these cars because the trans was not designed to turn these rims. You could look for a thermostat that is rated for a certain degree or just drive it the way it is.
5. no