What does anybody elses average operating temp show? My truck is showing anywhere from the bottom of N on normal to the top of the N. Never higher, but the heater runs hot enough air to burn you hands in hot vent mode with the fann all the way up. I had to fix the wire on the temp sending unit when I got it, not sure if the temp sending unit is reading right though. I beleive it still has the stock 195 thermostat.

 

The in dash temp gauge is a joke, it's more of an idiot light with a needle. Same thing for the oil pressure gauge.

 

Its very common for the temp gauge to read like that. Its just the nature of the beast. It you have good heat in the cab your probably fine but a Good aftermarket gauge with numbers is better. I hate saying my truck is running at the O.

 

Mines just like yours, mostly on the N and most times just a tad below it.... -8 here this morning and still says the same.....

Slick

 

Mine is pretty accurate. My F-150's are the same way. If they had numbers I'd consider them very good guages. The voltmeters seem to be pretty good too. Now the oil pressure guage is another story.

With my stock thermostat, that's how mine read too. Now with the 203 it reads straight up.

 

You can make the oil pressure in dash gauge work like a real one:

TheDieselStop.Com - www.thedieselstop.com

 

I tried it on my 95 F-150 and couldn't get it to work. I should try my PSD though. What is different about some 97's in which it may not work on them?

 

Accurate to me is know what temperature my coolant is not where it falls in the work NORMAL. If it had numbers it would be a great gauge. But it doesn't have numbers and I have heard of far too many guys overheating their engine and the needle never even coming close to showing it overheating.

 

"Use teflon tape or other pipe sealant at all threads."

Sensor need body grounded.
Teflon tape = bad .. could isolated ground.
Pipe sealant probably OK.

 

so how would you go about that.Just go to that water temp. censer and unplugging it and plugging in the wires from a gauge that has numbers ,and that should be good or is there something different that should be done.