overheating
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New User
Joined: Mar 2007
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overheating
Hey i have a 1986 f250 7.5L. 460
the temp. gauge gets about halfway or more after idling for a few minutes but i havent driven it much after driving it gets over the halfway mark.
it hasn't been driven much lately because i just purchased it from my step brother and the owner before him let it sit too. saturday i am changing the aitifreeze i'm going to completely empty it and fill it up again.
i 'm wondering if that will be enough or what the problem is?
help appreciated thanks.
the temp. gauge gets about halfway or more after idling for a few minutes but i havent driven it much after driving it gets over the halfway mark.
it hasn't been driven much lately because i just purchased it from my step brother and the owner before him let it sit too. saturday i am changing the aitifreeze i'm going to completely empty it and fill it up again.
i 'm wondering if that will be enough or what the problem is?
help appreciated thanks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 550
From: Kalispell, MT
Doesn't sound like you have a problem. My 86 5.0 (but the electrical to gauges is likely the same) always runs at about 3/4 on the gauge. Run it a couple of miles and pop the hood. Listen and look for signs it's overheating.
They do get warm by nature ... 200 deg is not unusual depending on conditions. Make sure to tighten your pressure cap.
They do get warm by nature ... 200 deg is not unusual depending on conditions. Make sure to tighten your pressure cap.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2007
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thanks
yeah i'll check that out a little later today thanks
plus i'm changing the oil today and the antifreeze so that should help. next the only thing i need to fix is the exhaust theres a huge leak on the right front side but otherthan that it was worth what i paid
thanks
plus i'm changing the oil today and the antifreeze so that should help. next the only thing i need to fix is the exhaust theres a huge leak on the right front side but otherthan that it was worth what i paid
thanks
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 837
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From: Minnesota
Give the cooling system a good flush while you're at it. You might want to run a trouble light behind the radiator while you look in from the front to see if the core is open. I got quite a surprise when I did that. If you have an AC condensor you may have to pull the radiator to do it right.
I was removing the old radiator because I thought the core was bad. Low mileage at the time, but things happen. As I was lifting it out the light I had under the hood disappeared ... most of the core had bugs and "mud" in it!! Ended up replacing it because I had a new 4-core sitting there, but a good radiator shop likely could cook it clean.
I was removing the old radiator because I thought the core was bad. Low mileage at the time, but things happen. As I was lifting it out the light I had under the hood disappeared ... most of the core had bugs and "mud" in it!! Ended up replacing it because I had a new 4-core sitting there, but a good radiator shop likely could cook it clean.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 517
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by Franklin2
I have seen a lot of money wasted on a faulty reading oil pressure and water temp gauges.
The copper traces on the printed circuit at the back of the cluster tend to grow a film over the bare traces just as a new penny tarnishes over time. This is one key reason why the instrument lights seem to get more dim over time as well.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 831
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From: San Antonio, Texas
I agree, I would not worry about the overheat indicator unless there are other symptoms. I had that problem on an '86 ,with a 302, but the pressure cap would release when I shut it down, dumping my anti-freeze on the ground. Took it to a mechanic and he said that it is normal for those engines to run at 210 degrees. The pressure cap prevents them from boiling over. We put a direct reading guage on it and found that it was running about 220 degrees. (too hot) Finally isolated the problem to the cylinder heads. I'm not sure what he did to the heads, if he rebuilt them or just resealed them. It was a company truck so I had other things to think about plus it wasn't costing me anything. Any way, that fixed the problem. If you are still worried about it, put in a direct reading temp. guage and check the actual operating temp. Hope this helps.__________________
'80 s/b s/s I6
'80 s/b s/s I6
