Over heating when idling
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
If you pick up a cheap mechanical guage you can install it at the same time using the second plug in your intake (I have both guages hooked up in my truck). Then you can monitor the exact temperature and see if your guage is right while you're driving around. If all checks out okay you can pull the mechanical later. Sometimes it's hard to get a good idea of how acurate your stock guage is if you only test it at idle with a candy thermometer.
One thing that frequently causes problems with the Ford guages is people will unknowingly use a sending unit for the "idiot" light panel instead of the guage panel. This will cause all kinds of hokey readings on a guage.
One thing that frequently causes problems with the Ford guages is people will unknowingly use a sending unit for the "idiot" light panel instead of the guage panel. This will cause all kinds of hokey readings on a guage.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
That kinda fits what I found with a 390 I had warmed up for my 1968 F250. It wanted to overheat with extended idle. Replaced the stock 5 blade fan with a 7 blade and no more problem. Volume of air flow is everything at idle speed. Running down the road it is solved by mph of the vehicle.
