COOLANT TEMP??
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 53
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COOLANT TEMP??
3 years ago changed out 180* thermostat replaced with 195*. Lack of heat now I have more than enough. Went on holidays this year and found temp. gauge to be very high, with no fluctuation in the temp. Before holidays I flushed rad, new coolant, coolant additive, top and bottom hoses, new cap, rebuilt rad,and new heater hoses. Still the temp. gauge is high not pinned but higher than liked. So I changed out electric gauge with new one incl. new sender. The new gauge has graduations so now I can see the exact temp. The temp rises properly at idle to 200*, and sits there no fluctuation. On the highway rises to 220* and sits there. Do I have a problem or not?? rad is hot to touch but never boils, However this summer she pushed about 2 litres 2 separate times(35* on those days). Some guys tell me it won't boil till 245*, don't worry. Some say Fords run hot, don't worry about it! People don't understand, my truck is my woman, she's everything to me and if I ignore her she'll **** me off someday someway. Do I have a problem with my girl or is it nothing to worry about.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 169
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COOLANT TEMP??
What you see with a 195º thermostat is probably correct. It is not opening as quickly of completely as it did when it was new, buyt it is still functioning. That it is rising to 220º and then goes no higher indicates the rest of your cooling system is working. You probably are a little down on power and milage from all that heat though. Have you tried another 180º thermostat?
What you may have (assuming that 3 years ago when you put the thermostat in your temp was lower than now) is a leaking vacuum advance or stuck mechanical advance. If you engine timing is retarded it will run hotter than normal. warm you engine up. set the initial timing at idle. Rev the engine and watch how much it advances at 1500, 2000 and 2500 rpm. check that against the published spec. allow the engine to go back to idle and plug in your vacuum advance. Recheck your timing, check the amount of advance against your distributer's calibration. (I am assuming you don't have complete computer control of these things. method is different if you do. Herman
What you may have (assuming that 3 years ago when you put the thermostat in your temp was lower than now) is a leaking vacuum advance or stuck mechanical advance. If you engine timing is retarded it will run hotter than normal. warm you engine up. set the initial timing at idle. Rev the engine and watch how much it advances at 1500, 2000 and 2500 rpm. check that against the published spec. allow the engine to go back to idle and plug in your vacuum advance. Recheck your timing, check the amount of advance against your distributer's calibration. (I am assuming you don't have complete computer control of these things. method is different if you do. Herman
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 169
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COOLANT TEMP??
Fluke and others make several digital temp meters. The least expensive way is to purchase an adaptor that plugs into you multimeter. the thermocuple puts ot a voltage that you read as degrees. Fluke makes one of these too. don't remember model numbers because I use one from work. We have several different types. price depends upon the degree of accuracy you want. basically not cheap. Check the Fluke web site. Herman
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
COOLANT TEMP??
Just let you guys know; Changed coolant again, added new heavy duty 195* thermo and the aftermarket temp. gauge still rose to 220* in the red. So I got mad and removed the new temp. gauge and reconnected the old one. Everything is 100% now the temp. doesn't go above 190*. This is a fact "SOME AFTERMARKET TEMP. GAUGES ARE NOT COMPADABLE OR CALIBRATED FOR MY 1978 FORD PICKUP WITH AN INLINE 6".
