dash temp gauge question
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2013
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dash temp gauge question
Dash temperature gauge needle on my truck stays at about the "N" in normal. I feel like that is the low end. I realize these aren't perfect gauges, but would like to know where the needle on some other folks' trucks sits during "normal" operation.
Thanks a ton.
Thanks a ton.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 603
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio
Mine oscillates between the the N and O. I tested the thermostat before installing it and opened at 190 and fully opened at 210 just as the spec indicate. From this I assume the first part of N is 190 and the later part of O is 210. When the gauge gets to O the engine fan also kicks on. L or L+ is 235 at the thermostat housing according to my IR thermometer.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Tri-Cities, TN
I had ample opportunity to observe the gauge this spring when I took a 7000 mile trip with the truck. At least with mine, the factory gauge gives different readings even when the actual engine temps don't change. I could have 188 degree temps on my aftermarket gauge, and the factory gauge could read below N or almost to R. At 200, just above N to Above M. In fact, I came to discover that the factory gauge had little relation to the actual engine temps, and simply can not be trusted. Again, maybe just my truck. I couldn't find any correlation between the two once the truck had warmed up. I tried various electrical accessories to see if the issue could be a voltage drop and/or grounding issue, but the function of the factory gauge appears random. I experienced almost 30 degree variations in temps with the factory gauge barely registering any difference.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,221
Likes: 17
You can't really go by the factory gauge position until you have an aftermarket gauge to compare it too. Without hard numbers you do not know if the sensor for the factory gauge is failing or not, all you know is that it is moving.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 867
Likes: 3
From: North Bend
And like snowdog was saying, same truck with different temps may not even move the gauge. I have a cheap aftermarket gauge that works great and I have seen the same issue. I've had my coolant boiling and the stock gauge didn't even notice...
Get a gauge. And while you're at it, oil pressure too. The gauge only reads 6 or so psi and says "normal".
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
My '90 F250 never reaches the N, goes just abit over the first line.
My '91 F350, it rides right on the M of NORMAL, and both run at the same temp* according to a real gauge.
Shows how bad these dash gauges are.
My '91 F350, it rides right on the M of NORMAL, and both run at the same temp* according to a real gauge.
Shows how bad these dash gauges are.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 125
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Wow, sounds like those gauges are extremely unreliable. As I said, my truck sits at "N" most of the time. When I was doing the cooling flush and had distilled water in the system it rapidly rose to the "M" position which had me a little nervous. I've also had it get about to the M when driving over some mountain passes with a bigger load. So I always thought that when the needle was rising, it was in fact heating up, now I have no idea what to make of it. Still think it correlates with the temperature, just have no idea how to interpret the needle position.
Time for a aftermarket temp gauge...
Time for a aftermarket temp gauge...
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
Snowdog79 I have the same fluctuating temp gauge issue. I noticed that it reads warmer as my fuel level drops. Full fuel and the temp stays below the O. 3/4 tank and the temp reads O, 1/2 tank and the temp moves to R. It has to be a ground issue somewhere but I haven't had time to investigate. I checked temps with an infrared thermometer and the temp doesn't vary much, roughly 185-190F regardless of what the OEM gauge says. I plan on installing a mechanical gauge as others have recommended. At least I know that the engine isn't getting hot.
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