how accurate is the stock temp gauge?

GearBngR · September 8th, 2011, 09:11 PM

All of a sudden my temp gauge is reading really high, before it wouldn't even be halfway and now it'll make its way to the red.I dont think its overheating, i dont hear coolant boiling when i turn the car off. Also if i turn the car off when the gauge hit the red and immediately turn the key to on, the gauge will only read read 3/4 of the way up??? If i turn my fan on that will make the gauge jump about 5 degrees within a second to.It used to start out the gauge would start climbing and if i kept driving it would return to normal,now it just stays up there so im scared to drive the car. I have a 331 in the car with AFR 165's and the car has an aluminum 2 row and Efan.

shamrock81887 · September 8th, 2011, 09:53 PM

my car reads half when warmed up the only time it went in the red i had a issue (radiator leak) and the only time it went 3/4 is after i ran it up to 100+ mph

Colt.45 · September 9th, 2011, 09:16 AM

What kind of fan are you running? Are you running a manual override switch? Or just a manual switch? I would recommend a good after market gauge.

1988 convertible · September 10th, 2011, 09:32 AM

whenever i hear things like this makes me thing head gasket failure...

is the car driven with an electric fan (you mentioned switching it on?)
when was the last time you replaced the thermostat? (what type 180, 190?)
What kind of radiator are you running?
Check the coolant levels in the overflow bottle has it increased/decreased?
try getting a temperature gun and measuring the heat from the top of the lower manifold at the front where the thermostat takes its reading from?
after the car has been running for some time put a palstic board or box at the rear of the exhausts hit the gas and see if there is any moisture coming out from the exhaust feel the texture if it feels like coolant the heads are leaking... if not then probably something from the above.

gripthenboost · September 10th, 2011, 02:13 PM

I have a 190stat. I always read high on the normal range but it runs good. Too cold my motor doesnt run as strong. But it just might be in my head.

95Slobra · September 10th, 2011, 03:07 PM

so what is the reason if my coolant dissappears in my overflow tank? My engine runs very cool though

GearBngR · September 11th, 2011, 07:38 PM

For some reason i guess it just barfed up some coolant. I dont have an overflow bottle. filled it back up and its been fine, have been checking it everyday and it hasnt lost any yet.

September 8th, 2011, 09:11 PM	#1
GearBngR Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 9 iTrader: 0 reviews	how accurate is the stock temp gauge? All of a sudden my temp gauge is reading really high, before it wouldn't even be halfway and now it'll make its way to the red.I dont think its overheating, i dont hear coolant boiling when i turn the car off. Also if i turn the car off when the gauge hit the red and immediately turn the key to on, the gauge will only read read 3/4 of the way up??? If i turn my fan on that will make the gauge jump about 5 degrees within a second to.It used to start out the gauge would start climbing and if i kept driving it would return to normal,now it just stays up there so im scared to drive the car. I have a 331 in the car with AFR 165's and the car has an aluminum 2 row and Efan.

September 10th, 2011, 02:13 PM	#5
gripthenboost Hardcore Enthusiast 91 Mustang GT 1991 sliver GT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1,213 iTrader: 0 reviews	I have a 190stat. I always read high on the normal range but it runs good. Too cold my motor doesnt run as strong. But it just might be in my head. __________________

September 10th, 2011, 03:07 PM	#6
95Slobra Regular 1995 Mustang Gt Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: raleigh Posts: 218 iTrader: 0 reviews	so what is the reason if my coolant dissappears in my overflow tank? My engine runs very cool though __________________ *95' GT, Trickflow setup, Aluminum heads with 1:6 roller rockers, e303 cam, BBK shorties into Magnaflow exhaust, BBK cold air intake with 75maf, Highperformance waterpump w/ electric fans*

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September 8th, 2011, 09:53 PM	#2
shamrock81887 Enthusiast 1993 mustang gt stock Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: utica ky Posts: 546 iTrader: 0 reviews	my car reads half when warmed up the only time it went in the red i had a issue (radiator leak) and the only time it went 3/4 is after i ran it up to 100+ mph

September 9th, 2011, 09:16 AM	#3
Colt.45 Regular 1990 5.0 LX SSP Join Date: May 2008 Location: . Posts: 216 iTrader: 0 reviews	What kind of fan are you running? Are you running a manual override switch? Or just a manual switch? I would recommend a good after market gauge.

September 10th, 2011, 09:32 AM	#4
1988 convertible Regular 1988 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Posts: 215 iTrader: 0 reviews	whenever i hear things like this makes me thing head gasket failure... is the car driven with an electric fan (you mentioned switching it on?) when was the last time you replaced the thermostat? (what type 180, 190?) What kind of radiator are you running? Check the coolant levels in the overflow bottle has it increased/decreased? try getting a temperature gun and measuring the heat from the top of the lower manifold at the front where the thermostat takes its reading from? after the car has been running for some time put a palstic board or box at the rear of the exhausts hit the gas and see if there is any moisture coming out from the exhaust feel the texture if it feels like coolant the heads are leaking... if not then probably something from the above.

September 11th, 2011, 07:38 PM	#7
GearBngR Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 9 iTrader: 0 reviews	For some reason i guess it just barfed up some coolant. I dont have an overflow bottle. filled it back up and its been fine, have been checking it everyday and it hasnt lost any yet.

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