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1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Dash temperature gauge

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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 04:32 PM
  #1  
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Dash temperature gauge

What does yours read when cruising down the highway? When I first bought this truck with 158k miles it set between the 'r' and the 'm' on normal. The truck now has 223k. Over the miles it has slowly crept up to where it now sets over the 'm' all the time and even eases up to near the 'a' sometimes. I guess my main question is, should I be concerned?

I'm assuming this is coolant temperature, and I was also wondering where in the cooling system the sensor is located.

I see people make references to certain temps their trucks run such as 210 degrees. This is an aftermarket gauge? Where does the sensor connect in to the cooling system to get this reading with an aftermarket gauge? I'd like to get one. Any answers or suggestions are much appreciated.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 04:48 PM
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Mine runs from below n, to r just depends. It is wore out I assume. Gonna go dedicated sometime soon.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 07:18 PM
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The sensor is on the top of the water pump next to the t-stat neck.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 08:12 PM
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How is your coolant? Flushed recently? Sca checked?
 
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 09:08 PM
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I'd start with cleaning the cooling fins on the radiator. If that doesn't help it might be time for a t stat and flush
 
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Old Sep 13, 2012 | 10:37 PM
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Id say the flush will tell the tale....what he said!
 
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 07:57 AM
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I flushed it and added SCA back in around 2 years ago. Although I did not remove all the plugs on the engine if I remember right.

I've noticed most of the fins on the AC system cooler which is in front of the radiator are mashed flat, but seems to me this would not restrict things too bad for the radiator since there is a space between the two.

So I guess most would say it is running a little hot compared to theirs? I guess I need to get a gauge that reads the actual temp.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 08:02 AM
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That's a little on the warm side. Mine typically runs somewhere between the O and R. It might be time for a new thermostat. If the fins on the A/C condenser are flattened that will restrict the flow of air through the radiator, but if they have been that way the whole time you have had the truck, I don't see why that would cause a problem now where as it didn't before. My guess is that the thermostat is dying a slow death.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 09:52 PM
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I remember when I bought the truck the guy told me that I needed either a long stem or short stem thermostat if I replaced it. Seemed he took real good care of it, even wrote me a list of parts and stuff and at what mileage I need to do what. I've continued keeping it well maintained, but I don't remember which thermostat he said I should get or what the reason was for getting one or the other. Do they open up at different temps or something? Thanks for the help.

The flattened fins on the AC condensor are probably mostly my fault so that could be partly to blame.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 10:03 PM
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Mine runs below or on "n" I've never noticed it higher. Had mine 3 weeks. Pulled a car trailer with a car with scrap. Etc. stays around there
 
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Old Sep 14, 2012 | 11:59 PM
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I have never seen mine get to the "o" in normal... even on 110 degree days with the A/C going full blast.

Richard
 
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 02:21 AM
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94.5 and 95 have a short stem stat. 96 and 97 have the long stem.
 
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 08:11 AM
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Ok, thanks for the info everyone... I'll see if replacing the thermostat brings it down some.
 
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 09:44 AM
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That thing is the biggest liar there is.

When I put my new pump in, I cleaned the sensor and it looked like it was running hot for a week, then it started reading something different.

It's just a way to see if things are going out of the ordinary or not.
 
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 11:07 PM
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Yeah I considered that it may just be my gauge is acting goofy. We'll see when I get this new thermostat in there. I can tell when the one in there now opens up cause the needle will drop just a bit and that was usually just as it got up to the 'a'. I suppose if it does the same thing after I get the new one in then it's probably just my gauge is reading high.
 
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