temp gauge question
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Junior User
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temp gauge question
Ive got a 93 ranger with the 2.3l 4 banger 2wd, 5sp man. just wondering where all your temperature needles usually sit, mine seems to be a little on the cold side, however, just put a new 192deg. thermo in and its just the same, so im just wondering if it likes to hover close to the cold, even though it isnt ever near the "normal" text on the gauge. Thanks guys!
-tony
-tony
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,436
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From: Virginia
You will probably find that there is a billion (ok, maybe less) posts about how inaccurate the stock Ford gauges are. It seems like the Gas, Oil, and Water gauges are the biggest problems. You can have the radiator temp tested at a shop, or if you have a multimeter and are better than I am at testing connections you can test it for the proper amount of power to the connections. A Haynes Manual can help you track down the connections you are looking for. You will propably find your water temp is fine, and the gauge is just off.
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Junior User
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I checked the coolant temperature sensor for the computer, and judging by the resistance i got out of the sensor when my car was at normal operating temperature, it came out to be around 165deg. ive got a 192 thermo in there. what could be making my car not heat up all the way? it never even gets to the n in "normal" and the other temp gauge confirms it. any ideas guys? it also seems to be getting a little less gas mileage that what it should, which is something that running cold can cause. Thank you again for all the help you guys have given me!
-Tony
-Tony
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
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From: Central Kali
I wouldn't trust a stock guage as far as I could throw it. I would install a real guage. You could drop the level of the coolant so you could test the temp of the radiator water after you warm up the engine thru the cap. I had an accurate guage with enough resolution to allow me to see the engine warming up. You could see the temp climbing and then see the thermostate open and then slightly close to maintain an average water temperature. I do know that the stock sensors are linear up to around 160 degrees. Then a large change in temperature only moves the guage a little. So H is really hot.
Just be glad that you don't have an overheating problem. Anyway, let us double check the coolant temp and go from there.
Just be glad that you don't have an overheating problem. Anyway, let us double check the coolant temp and go from there.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Augusta Kansas
The temp gauge on our 95 4.0 never read normal the first year we had it-always on the cold side. I replaced the thermostat and temp sender at the same time, and the gauge reads normal. I cannot say for certain, but I suspect the problem was the sender and not the thermostat. Sender was only around $10.
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My 92 has the same problem, installed an aftermarket mechanical temp guage and confirmed it is only getting as hot as 150 deg., I also have a 192 thermo (new) what should i look at as far as motor not getting warm enough to go off choke mode? And yes, my gas milage stinks!
Thanks
Ammo Troop
Thanks
Ammo Troop
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Central Texas
I think all the car company's learned from the Jeep Wrangler not to put numbers on their gauges! Wrangler has 200deg plainly marked way past hafway around the gauge. With a 195 thermostat and normal mechanical error the needle hanges within 1/8 of an inch from the RED ZONE on the gauge.
So a normal person knows that water turns to steam at 212deg and looks at the gauge and is terrified that he is about to lose all his coolant..
Now WE ALL know that with the 16lb pressure cap the coolant will not turn to steam until reaching 240deg or so. But your average driver is scared by a true gauge. Also nobody wants a series of lights and no gauge so what we get is a gauge that does not mean a damn thing.
Big Jim
So a normal person knows that water turns to steam at 212deg and looks at the gauge and is terrified that he is about to lose all his coolant..
Now WE ALL know that with the 16lb pressure cap the coolant will not turn to steam until reaching 240deg or so. But your average driver is scared by a true gauge. Also nobody wants a series of lights and no gauge so what we get is a gauge that does not mean a damn thing.
Big Jim
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Post Fiend
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From: Central Kali
I have never had a problem with an engine running too cold. It has always been the opposite. ammo troop, you might take out the thermostat and check it in a pan of water to see if it is working. We need more data here.
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Junior User
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checked temp
sure enough, i borrowed someone temp probe and its only comin up at 159deg. when hot, checked the thermostat before i put it in, it didnt open up until the water got a fair amount hotter than just 160, so any ideas on what could be causing this? it seems i hear the fan kicking in alot, but i do alot of city driving, so im guessing thats normal. thanks for all your input so far!
-Tony
-Tony
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Central Texas
Howdy Capri
The only way to temp out a thermostat is to take it out and put IT in a pan and check the temp in the pan of hot water. Sticking a probe down into the radiator will not get at the truth.
If that is indeed a new thermostat then the problem is that the cluster gauge is incorrect. I doubt anyone here has ever seen a malfuncting NEW thermostat.
Big Jim
The only way to temp out a thermostat is to take it out and put IT in a pan and check the temp in the pan of hot water. Sticking a probe down into the radiator will not get at the truth.
If that is indeed a new thermostat then the problem is that the cluster gauge is incorrect. I doubt anyone here has ever seen a malfuncting NEW thermostat.
Big Jim
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Central Texas
Howdy Mike
A little known fact about thermostats is that they operate from the expansion of BEESWAX. That's right BEESWAX. it is inside of the copper or brass container and expands at a known rate and temp opening the gate at a certain temp. mostly they fail at a partly open gate. I change them out, if I even THINK about them, out they go.
Big Jim
A little known fact about thermostats is that they operate from the expansion of BEESWAX. That's right BEESWAX. it is inside of the copper or brass container and expands at a known rate and temp opening the gate at a certain temp. mostly they fail at a partly open gate. I change them out, if I even THINK about them, out they go.
Big Jim
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 94
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From: Lincoln, NE
Originally Posted by BubbaP
The temp gauge on our 95 4.0 never read normal the first year we had it-always on the cold side. I replaced the thermostat and temp sender at the same time, and the gauge reads normal. I cannot say for certain, but I suspect the problem was the sender and not the thermostat. Sender was only around $10.
I'll second the vote for changing your temp sender. Had mine go out on my 94 B4000 back when it was only a year old.