Over heating?
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Over heating?
Howdy,
My pick up is a 1985 f150 Lariat, 302, automatic 2WD
My pick up has been sitting for a year and half (last tag date) and I just got it road worthy, but I think it's over heating
My temp gauge is the stock one and looks like C-NORMAL-H
After cruising for a bit it likes to alternate between the A and L
Is this normal? I do have the original radiator and I have installed a new thermostat
Thanks,
-Matt
My pick up is a 1985 f150 Lariat, 302, automatic 2WD
My pick up has been sitting for a year and half (last tag date) and I just got it road worthy, but I think it's over heating
My temp gauge is the stock one and looks like C-NORMAL-H
After cruising for a bit it likes to alternate between the A and L
Is this normal? I do have the original radiator and I have installed a new thermostat
Thanks,
-Matt
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From: Virginia
Are there any other signs of overheating? Pinging when you press the throttle? Burning oil smell? Coolant running out? If not, I would forget the factory gauge and put a aftermarket set of gauges on it with real numbers under the dash. A lot of money can be wasted worrying about the stock gauges and what they say. The fuel gauge is the only one to worry about and keep working.
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It was loosing coolant, but after I fixed a coolant leak it has stayed full. As far as I can tell the only symptom of overheating is the temp gauge. The only gauge that doesn't "work" is the Fuel gauge Lol; I'll look for an after market tempt gauge
btw, the thermostat I installed was rated at 195 F, would it hurt to put in a 180 F?
Thank you Dave,
-Matt
btw, the thermostat I installed was rated at 195 F, would it hurt to put in a 180 F?
Thank you Dave,
-Matt
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,995
Likes: 2,741
From: Virginia
It was loosing coolant, but after I fixed a coolant leak it has stayed full. As far as I can tell the only symptom of overheating is the temp gauge. The only gauge that doesn't "work" is the Fuel gauge Lol; I'll look for an after market tempt gauge
btw, the thermostat I installed was rated at 195 F, would it hurt to put in a 180 F?
Thank you Dave,
-Matt
btw, the thermostat I installed was rated at 195 F, would it hurt to put in a 180 F?
Thank you Dave,
-Matt
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I purchased an aftermarket tempt gauge and it is suppose to arrive today, I'll probably install it this weekend and I'll let y'll know how it goes.
Thank you for everybody's feedback, the info really does help
-Matt
Thank you for everybody's feedback, the info really does help
-Matt
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My 85 is fuel injected, so I'll take your advice and leave the 195F where it is
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Update:
My over heating troubles are over and this is what I did:
I did not replace the factory temperature gauge
I did replace the thermostat (195F), gave it a complete radiator flush, and put in new antifreeze.
After those 3 things my needle likes to dance between the R and the M on my gauge which looks like this C-NORMAL-H
Also, there were little white ***** in the older (still green) anti-freeze, whats up with that? It didn't look like oil, it looked like little bits of Styrofoam were floating around in there
My over heating troubles are over and this is what I did:
I did not replace the factory temperature gauge
I did replace the thermostat (195F), gave it a complete radiator flush, and put in new antifreeze.
After those 3 things my needle likes to dance between the R and the M on my gauge which looks like this C-NORMAL-H
Also, there were little white ***** in the older (still green) anti-freeze, whats up with that? It didn't look like oil, it looked like little bits of Styrofoam were floating around in there
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Black Hills of SD
1/2 of all perceived overheating issues are a bad radiator cap.
If it isn't loosing coolant, you really do not have an overheating problem. And remember, Ford didn't make these gauges for the space program, they are just a janky vague reminder of what is really going on.
If it isn't loosing coolant, you really do not have an overheating problem. And remember, Ford didn't make these gauges for the space program, they are just a janky vague reminder of what is really going on.
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