Hot Weather Causing engione fan to continue running?

[beachy]

I have a rover 114 and the fan in the engine has started to run quite a lot.  It continues going even when I have stopped the car - sometimes for a few minutes, most of my car journeys are quite short.  Is this normal, my water reservoir is full and the oil is ok.  I did have to have my hose replaced recently but it's not leaking any more.  I obviously don't want to take it to the garage when it's not necessary.  Any suggestions.

[KebabMeister]

It's perfectly normal.  The K-Series engine in the 114 has a very small cooling system which means it warms up very quick in winter (so you can have hot air fast).  Obviously this means in summer it needs to cool down enough in the radiator before going back in the engine.  Additionally short journeys mean that not much air passes through the radiator and thus requires the fan to do the work instead.

[KebabMeister]

er, meant just not hot air in winter, but obviously hot engine = more fuel efficiency.

[Jay70]

It could also be the thermostat not opening. 

[KebabMeister]

If the thermostat wasn't opening then the radiator would be cold (I believe the cooling fan picks up radiator temperature via a temp sender on the radiator itself).  If the thermostat was stuck open then the coolant wouldn't be getting up to full temperature because it would be constantly circulating, and again the fan wouldn't engage very frequently.

[beachy]

Thanks everyone for your answers.  It sort of makes sense to me and I'll stop worrying about it.  Thanks again.