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Water temp

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Old Mar 5, 2015 | 01:11 AM
  #1  
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Water temp

just installed my electric water temp gauge today and noticed it seems to me like it is running cool. it would bounce between 145/150-170/175 typically and hit 200 once. while i was at it i replaced the thermostat with a 195* one. is this a normal range or what is the ideal range that it should be running at? it is a 1992 302 that seems to be running in open loop continuously. thanks in advance
 
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Old Mar 5, 2015 | 05:15 AM
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Did you attach the ground for the sender to the block or negative battery cable? If not, then do so. I'm not saying what your seeing isn't right, but if you tied into a frame ground, you will get different numbers.

What brand t-stat did you install? I only trust Motorcraft or Mitshimoto t-stats, as I have lots of experience with Junk part store versions.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2015 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by timbersteel
Did you attach the ground for the sender to the block or negative battery cable? If not, then do so. I'm not saying what your seeing isn't right, but if you tied into a frame ground, you will get different numbers.

What brand t-stat did you install? I only trust Motorcraft or Mitshimoto t-stats, as I have lots of experience with Junk part store versions.
The ground is on the same bolt as the grounding strap for the upper intake on the firewall. ....yeah the brand was like failsafe I think..

The thing is that the factory gauge and the aftermarket one appear to be moving almost in sync.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2015 | 04:23 AM
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How did you mount the sensors? It sounds like there might be an air pocket around the sensors.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2015 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by EPNCSU2006
How did you mount the sensors? It sounds like there might be an air pocket around the sensors.
You see I got to thinking about this. I actually think my numbers maybe correct. The sensor is in the new water inlet which had a test port. It is on the radiator side of the thermostat. So wouldn't it be reading a little cooler than it actually is?
 
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Old Mar 7, 2015 | 05:21 AM
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You're right, it will only be accurate in that location when the thermostat is open and water is flowing over the sensor. Could you switch the OE sender and aftermarket sensor location and see how the reading changes on the aftermarket gauge?
 
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Old Mar 7, 2015 | 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by EPNCSU2006
You're right, it will only be accurate in that location when the thermostat is open and water is flowing over the sensor. Could you switch the OE sender and aftermarket sensor location and see how the reading changes on the aftermarket gauge?
Thanks for the reply. I am going to look into this and try this tomorrow.
 
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