Temperature question
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 389
From: Evansville, Indiana
Temperature question
My '86 F150, 5.0L EFI is showing low temperature at the gauge when the engine is at operating temperature. (new stat and got 190*F pointing laser thermometer at water pump housing). I feel that the problem lies with the sending unit or less likely the gauge.
My question is does the EEC receive it's info from the same sending unit or are there two? An EEC that thinks the engine is cool would deliver too rich a fuel mixture and hurt performance and economy.
PS: I have owned truck since new and while the gauge always read toward the cool end, it is now noticeably cooler than the first 24 years.
My question is does the EEC receive it's info from the same sending unit or are there two? An EEC that thinks the engine is cool would deliver too rich a fuel mixture and hurt performance and economy.
PS: I have owned truck since new and while the gauge always read toward the cool end, it is now noticeably cooler than the first 24 years.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 389
From: Evansville, Indiana
[QUOTE=diggerrigger;11032944The inaccurate gauge doesn't bother me too much.[/QUOTE]
I'm preparing to flush cooling system and refill. Now would be a good time to address the temperature sender issue. On my 1986 5.0L EFI w AOD, where might I locate the one wire (red/white) sender? The EEC temperature sensor (green/yellow-black/white wires) is top, front, center.
EDIT: Found! Front left intake manifold. Right next to #5 fuel injector.
I'm preparing to flush cooling system and refill. Now would be a good time to address the temperature sender issue. On my 1986 5.0L EFI w AOD, where might I locate the one wire (red/white) sender? The EEC temperature sensor (green/yellow-black/white wires) is top, front, center.
EDIT: Found! Front left intake manifold. Right next to #5 fuel injector.
Tuned
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 13
From: Baltimore
I had a similar problem with the oil pressure gauge on my explorer. Look and see if your wire to the sender is the push on type. The sender is threaded and my problem was corrosion in the connector. Cut it off and crimped an eye lug on and attached it with a nut. Problem cured.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 389
From: Evansville, Indiana
I had a similar problem with the oil pressure gauge on my explorer. Look and see if your wire to the sender is the push on type. The sender is threaded and my problem was corrosion in the connector. Cut it off and crimped an eye lug on and attached it with a nut. Problem cured.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 1,166
Does your truck have an oil pressure gauge or just an idiot light? If it has the gauge and has been operating properly, you can use it to your advantage for some poor man's troubleshooting.
The oil pressure and temperature gauges are the same internally. The only difference is the markings on the face. Although the senders are physically different, they both operate on the same resistance range.
Rig up a pair of test leads and connect the temp sender wire to the oil pressure sender. Connect the oil pressure wire to the temp sender. Start the engine and watch the gauges. The oil pressure gauge will now show the output from the temp sender, and visa versa.
If the temp sender is indeed bad, the deliberately miswired oil pressure gauge will tell you.
The oil pressure and temperature gauges are the same internally. The only difference is the markings on the face. Although the senders are physically different, they both operate on the same resistance range.
Rig up a pair of test leads and connect the temp sender wire to the oil pressure sender. Connect the oil pressure wire to the temp sender. Start the engine and watch the gauges. The oil pressure gauge will now show the output from the temp sender, and visa versa.
If the temp sender is indeed bad, the deliberately miswired oil pressure gauge will tell you.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 389
From: Evansville, Indiana
Trifecta! No continuity between sender body and manifold, no continuity between threaded post and sender body. Also, the wire terminal, the push on type, was corroded badly. I got a new sender (which showed continuity with some resistance), I dug up two #8-32 nuts and one eyelet crimp on terminal. Ready to replace after the flush. Tomorrow?
Cool info on the gauges.
EDIT: The gauge/sender issue was corrected per the discussion above.
Cool info on the gauges.
EDIT: The gauge/sender issue was corrected per the discussion above.
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