1994 splash cooling

[splash 94]

hi everyone new to forum have a problem with cooling system the temp gauge keeps going up and down normaly it's between the n an o in normal and now it go'sup to the a and l i'vechange the heater hoses and revearse flush the cooling systen change themo stat did pressure check the raditator and capbut still have wandering needle on gauge but somwhat lower between r and m now i did the ckeck to see if the pump was working by squee test and that seem o.k
thanks ron

 

[Big Jim M]

You don't say where you are or what the outside temperature is. IN GENERAL as long as the needle isn't in the RED zone you are good to go.
The thermostat opens and closes in short drives. It also opens and closes in COLD weather. These movements cause the needle to wander a bit. When on the hiway at a given speed for a few miles the needle should stabilize.. exceptionally cold weather can even then cause the needle to wander.

NORMAL is what is written on your gauge and it simply means that the temp is NORMAL as long as the needle is in there ANYWHERE. Ford did that to keep folks from scareing themselves if their ride was 5* warmer or cooler than their friends ride.. Sometimes it still scares folks.

Also when you filled the radiator did you follow the directions and have the engine running with the HEATER turned to hot? If not you still have some air in the system.
Big JIm

 

[splash 94]

i'm florida and the temp is been in the 50's to low 70's this all started when i found a leaking heater hose. and during of driving more than 100 round trip the up and down drives me crazy. and it smell like it's running hot?

 

[modelageek]

like Big Jim M said you probably have air in the system.......what brand and degree t-stat did you use?

 

[splash 94]

splash cooling

it's 195 or 198 what ever ford use's from factory.yes i did have heater on how long does it take to get air out?

 

[Ranger44]

Id almost garuntee there is air in the system.

Jack the front up and leave the cap off. Turn the heat on a middle setting and let it run. This should burp the air out of the system and stop the guage from bouncing around.

 

[splash 94]

splash cooling

well i parked on a rise in my yardrun truck for over an hour saw air bubbles come out several times made sure rad was fill and drove and still the gauge is going up and down .now what maybe an internal leak the truck has 283 thou on speedo this is starting to piss me off.

 

[Big Jim M]

Yeah!

well i parked on a rise in my yardrun truck for over an hour saw air bubbles come out several times made sure rad was fill and drove and still the gauge is going up and down .now what maybe an internal leak the truck has 283 thou on speedo this is starting to piss me off.

But you didn't say whether or not you OPENED the heater flow! If the heater isn't turned to HOT it is still full of air..
Now if you did all that and it truly is full of coolant and still has bubbles coming in the coolant... You have a burnt headgasket or a cracked head... time to take her apart.
Big JIm

 

[Doncan]

My friend, you are not alone. I have a 1994 Ranger 4.0 and it does the same thing. I replaced EVERYTHING related to the cooling system and it still does it. So learn to live with it like I did...

 

[Black_Splash]

Could he be having a fan clutch going out? Though when mine did, it just got hot and didn't jump around.

 

[289-tiger-]

You will have to excuse me because I do not have any floaty carachatures under my response but my response is always to assist the motorist, but, if you have a clog in the system(i.e heater core or what have you) turning or flipping any switch in the system will not change the issue of the clog.. We used to open and close the heater switch rapidly on old cars when flushing the system. The early ranger has a core that is like a vacuum bag, junk goes to the bottom builds up and suddenly when the system is purged by the owner and they say: "I have no heat!" "my guage is going wild!" " I Can't get the air out of the system!" Quick check, take the lines off the core and attach them with a garden hose kit, if everything stabilizes, cool. If not get ready to get into the engine with other issues. You are probably fine.

Let's talk ackermann angles!!

Good luck