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temp guage??

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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 08:34 PM
  #1  
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temp guage??

im thinking of putting e-fans on my truck, but i dont like the temp guage that ford has, its not accurate and its just an idiot guage. id like to put a guage with numbers on it, is this possible? and if so, how do i go about doin it?
 
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 10:53 PM
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The gauge is not an idiot gauge. It reads actual head temp, not coolant temp. This is so even if there is no coolant in the system, it will see the head it too hot and shut down every other cylinder. The PCM picks up coolant temp from a different sensor, not sure exactly where though.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 04:42 AM
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Originally Posted by LxMan1
The gauge is not an idiot gauge.
The oil pressure and voltage gauges are "idiot" gauges but not the coolant gauge. The oil pressure gauge will read normal if there is over 8-10 psi of oil pressure and the voltage will read normal all the way down to @ 11.6-7v.This has just been my experience.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:07 AM
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From my experience on my 98 I must disagree with you guys. The gauge is "taylored" for reading centered. There is little movement between 160 & 230 of engine temp. But my believe is because of the gauge behavour outside that range. regardless, for the e-fan setup a better gague is required. Teh factory gauge will not show trouble until it is too late.

To answer the question though. For the old aluminum like mine. There is a section of the run between the heads that is very easy to drill and tap for 1/4 pipe. (elect gauge) If plastic I don't know.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by streethealer
The oil pressure and voltage gauges are "idiot" gauges but not the coolant gauge. The oil pressure gauge will read normal if there is over 8-10 psi of oil pressure and the voltage will read normal all the way down to @ 11.6-7v.This has just been my experience.

The voltage gauge works great on my truck. When my alternator was going out, I had just started the truck at work and was on my way home. I noticed the gauge was at 11-12V at work, and it slowly dropped all the way home. By the time I got into the driveway, it was reading ~6-7V. My truck barely made it up the hills and into my driveway...
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:48 AM
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interesting with the volts gauge. apparently the trucks differ some. my volts never moves. even with the volume up enough to dim the lights it will not move.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 01:21 PM
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thats what my guages do. The oil pressure and volt guage NEVER move. But instead of trying to find the point to tap into, could i just put a T fitting in the radiator hose after the T-stat and have the guage hook up there or will it not read right?
I know its totally different, but thats how i hooked up the temp guage on my atv
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 01:50 PM
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To read correct it needs to be on the engine side of the T-stat, But there will tell you temps above where the T-stat opening just fine. The sensor in the T needs to see the flow of coolant and not be stagnant. The gauge should not behave any diff than your ATV.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 02:11 PM
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so if i put it after the t-stat, in the hose leading to the radiator your saying it wont work or it will? because isnt there always coolant flowing through?
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 02:39 PM
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It will work for overheating. It will not read correctly until the t-stat opens. The gauge will read colder then suddenly warm up to operating temp. And it will read correct temps as the engine gets hotter or overheats.

There is a small amount of coolant flow to the rad by a closed t-stat, but not enough to read correctly. There is a bypass off the water pump which always has coolant flowing to allow some flow in the pump.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 03:02 PM
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it looks like this is going to be more difficult than i thought
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 04:21 PM
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I installed an electric coolant temp gauge by autometer...relatively simple to do. If you want to find the actual temp your truck is running at without the use of an aftermarket gauge you can perform a test using the digital odometer. Simply hold down the reset button why turning on the ignition and then let go when it blinks...it will cycle through a variety of tests and pcm readings with a push of the button and it will come to a point where it displays a "temp" whick will show the actual operating temp of the coolant. Give it a try and come back to me.
 

Last edited by xtrford; Dec 17, 2007 at 05:05 PM.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 05:40 PM
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it's realy not bad to install a sending unit in the intake. if you pull the air intake between the tb and the air filter off. u will see quite an area to work with for installing the sensor.

someone might need to correct me due to thickness. but the plastic will tap to 1/4 just fine. i left the coolant in so it would flush the shavings out. have all tools and put finger over the hole between drilling and tapping. then have the sensor handy to screw in after taping. coolant will be lost and a bucket underneath to catch it is wise. top off coolant when done. when tapping plastic, do not run the pipe tap in as far. leave the 10 to 12 threads.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by xtrford
I installed an electric coolant temp gauge by autometer...relatively simple to do. If you want to find the actual temp your truck is running at without the use of an aftermarket gauge you can perform a test using the digital odometer. Simply hold down the reset button why turning on the ignition and then let go when it blinks...it will cycle through a variety of tests and pcm readings with a push of the button and it will come to a point where it displays a "temp" whick will show the actual operating temp of the coolant. Give it a try and come back to me.
the 2002's will do that?
i thought it was just the new f-150s

and how did you hook up your temp guage?
 

Last edited by F-250 diesel; Dec 17, 2007 at 07:44 PM.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by tim.moman
it's realy not bad to install a sending unit in the intake. if you pull the air intake between the tb and the air filter off. u will see quite an area to work with for installing the sensor.

someone might need to correct me due to thickness. but the plastic will tap to 1/4 just fine. i left the coolant in so it would flush the shavings out. have all tools and put finger over the hole between drilling and tapping. then have the sensor handy to screw in after taping. coolant will be lost and a bucket underneath to catch it is wise. top off coolant when done. when tapping plastic, do not run the pipe tap in as far. leave the 10 to 12 threads.
did you do this?
and if so, you have any pics?
 
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