fluctuating temperature
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: covington wa.
Could've swore i posted something.
Anyhow Im going to remove the old thermostat and flush the system out. Hopefully flushing will clean the temp sensor and
anything else out,and if that don't work guess ill replace the
water pump.
Anyhow Im going to remove the old thermostat and flush the system out. Hopefully flushing will clean the temp sensor and
anything else out,and if that don't work guess ill replace the
water pump.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Well, my truck has two sending units because I have a stock one and an aftermarket one.
Don't replace your water pump, that's not the problem. My F-250 does the same thing also, I changed the thermostat in that truck and it didn't fix the problem either. You may want to hold off on that unless you feel the need to.
I'm in the same boat as you are, tryin' to figure this out, and I feel that I have ruled out those things.
Don't replace your water pump, that's not the problem. My F-250 does the same thing also, I changed the thermostat in that truck and it didn't fix the problem either. You may want to hold off on that unless you feel the need to.
I'm in the same boat as you are, tryin' to figure this out, and I feel that I have ruled out those things.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 7
From: NE Tennessee
When I first bought this '90 150 with a 302 last fall the heater didn't work good. Flushed the heater core and my temp gauge started reading lower. Crazy since I didn't flush any of the main system just the heater core. This could mean a restriction elsewhere in the system but my temp reads good so I'm gonna leave it alone for now.
The fluctuations could be the termostat opening and closing from a cooling system that is working better than intended. On my 2500 cheby work van the thermo goes to 200 then opens and goes to about 160 or 180 and stays there. Very odd since its a 195 thermostat. Repaced the Thermo but didn't change the readings.
BTW, where a good location on these 90's p/u to mount an aftermarket oil and water gauge?
The fluctuations could be the termostat opening and closing from a cooling system that is working better than intended. On my 2500 cheby work van the thermo goes to 200 then opens and goes to about 160 or 180 and stays there. Very odd since its a 195 thermostat. Repaced the Thermo but didn't change the readings.
BTW, where a good location on these 90's p/u to mount an aftermarket oil and water gauge?
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: covington wa.
Well then it sounds like a good ol flush is in hand.And does anyone know a good sight for radiators mine has a leak in the seam and might as well get a new one, and befor you answer
its not that thats causing the temp fluctuation it was leaking
befor hand. Think ill do a simple test on the water pump also,
still think it should stay put. Maybe if a stare at it long enough
it'll fix itself?
its not that thats causing the temp fluctuation it was leaking
befor hand. Think ill do a simple test on the water pump also,
still think it should stay put. Maybe if a stare at it long enough
it'll fix itself?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Whenever my autometer reads right...it's right around 195-200 degrees, it has a 192-195 degree thermostat so that's good. It's a brand new engine, and the temperature read correctly at first, about 40-50 miles later it started giving me trouble.
It worked just fine before I changed the motor in it. I know a pretty good ford mechanic so maybe he knows, I'll have to ask him.
It worked just fine before I changed the motor in it. I know a pretty good ford mechanic so maybe he knows, I'll have to ask him.
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Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: covington wa.
Okay, well i gave it a few days to maybe correct itself and ill have
to correct it myselt. Its my water pump thats bad due to the
spewing out the hole on the bottom of pump, so ill change it and
all should be good. any ideas on a good waterpump? was thinking
id get just a remanufactured pump since soon i plan on a new motor.
to correct it myselt. Its my water pump thats bad due to the
spewing out the hole on the bottom of pump, so ill change it and
all should be good. any ideas on a good waterpump? was thinking
id get just a remanufactured pump since soon i plan on a new motor.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: Central NY
Try cleaning your body ground, located just in front of the battery on the passenger side. I got right down to the bare metal when I cleaned mine last and it settled my guages down quite a bit.
My volt guage used to always read low normal now read high normal. Oil pressure in the upper half, and temp almost dead center after years of being in between n & o.
My volt guage used to always read low normal now read high normal. Oil pressure in the upper half, and temp almost dead center after years of being in between n & o.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
No, thats the ECT (engine coolant temp) sensor, don't unhook that one. The stock gauge picks up its reading from a sending unit ontop of the lower intake. When looking at the front of the engine, it's to the right of the distributor, near the #5 injector.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 342
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From: British Columbia
Originally Posted by Popa Tim
Try cleaning your body ground, located just in front of the battery on the passenger side. I got right down to the bare metal when I cleaned mine last and it settled my guages down quite a bit.
My volt guage used to always read low normal now read high normal. Oil pressure in the upper half, and temp almost dead center after years of being in between n & o.
My volt guage used to always read low normal now read high normal. Oil pressure in the upper half, and temp almost dead center after years of being in between n & o.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Longview, TX
Originally Posted by Spaznaut
BTW, where a good location on these 90's p/u to mount an aftermarket oil and water gauge?