I've noticed that my truck (1994 IDI turbo) seems to stay quite cold... usually around the left side of the N in "normal" on the gauge, and only occasionally into the O in "normal". Is this normal? Are there different temperature thermostats, and maybe it has a lower temp one?

I'm getting 15 to 16mpg with it, which is a little lower than I expected, but acceptable -- quite a bit of mountain driving, and some highway -- not much city. (I was only getting 17 to 18 in the Ford Ranger). Would running cold affect the mileage?

Z

 

190-200* Hard to tell with stock guages, but both of my dads run at about the 'O'

 

My 7.3 always ran under the N and it was always running at ope. temp.



You can't tell with these idiot gauges. You really need a real one. Very easy to install!

 

get a real mechanical temp gauge in there. my stock gauge runs in the same exact spot and my real gauge stays at 190*F all day.

 

Yep, real gauge is the best!




And easy to wire up!

Just use the temp light sender, that way your dash gauge still works, as well as your real one.

 

Actually, there is a way to test the sending unit, albeit im not sure what it is. or you could just replace it, i doubt theyre too spendy. When they go out they usually start reading low, same for oil pressure.

I thought it was my sender, turns out my t-stat would open and not close again.

 

in my van, it usually reads high. M is about the lowest i get, often past the hot line. the "real" gage shows 195-200 the whole time.
as mentioned above, the stock gage is about as good as a dartboard, and a real gage is in order.