94 4.0L Engine Temp

[Ballistik]

Ok My truck seems to have been running on the coolside ( atleast according to my gauge). The hottest it would get the needle would be between the N of Normal and the second dash from the left side of the temp gauge. So I changed the thermostat and compared the new one to the one I took out. THe spring in the old one seemed harder than the new one. Anyways I put in the new one and it is getting warmer but it still only goes to the Left Side of the N of Normal. I am wondering if this is the normal running temp according to the gauge or do I have a problem else where.
Thanks for your time.

 

[martin]

The factory gauges are notoriously inaccurate so a definative answer is impossible. sorry.

 

[Big Jim M]

What part of NORMAL is it you don't understand? Anywhere in the NORMAL range is just that...normal! Your engine is designed to run at just a bit above 200* When running on the hiway ar regular continued speed the temp is at that 200* +or- a few degrees.
Then when you pull off and stop at a light the temp climbs 10 or 12 degrees.. the reason is the coolant pump has slowed when the engine is still at running temp.. Then when starting off again the pump puts out more coolant and the temp goes back to the desired temp.
The reason your gauge has NORMAL on it instead of actual degrees is because SOME guys havn't a clue about what is going on inside their engines and they WORRY about things they have absolutely no KNOWLEGE of!!
The temp CANNOT remain exactly the same at all times because the engine isn't doing the same thing at all times..
Until your coolant starts puking out the overflow, everything is Ok. Normal means just that NORMAL!
Big JIm

 

[basketranger]

I have the same situation on my '93 3.0 so I flushed the system and put in new t-stat plus a new rad-cap gauge only seems to have come up a bit. so like the previous guy I believe what he said to be true.

 

[Ballistik]

SERIOUSLY BIG JIM !!! BLOW ME! I know whats going on I know whats going on I was asking basically the accuracy of the gauge. I was told by a couple of people that the gauge should be in the middle at running tem. And if the gauge isnt that sensative it wont move much. So I was asking that versus sitting temp and running temp.
And to the others who answered thanks for your time. I do appreciate it.

 

[Ranger44]

If it bothers ya, get a new gauge coolant sensor. It'll read a bit higher. Old sensors get covered in crap and read a bit lower. A new sensor is like $5.

 

[Ballistik]

it doesnt bother me. I am just trying to figure out if it reading correct or if I have an issue I have to fix. I have nothing to compare it to so that is why I am asking.

 

[Big Jim M]

Compare it to the gauge itself.. The gauge says it right out there in the open.. It says NORMAL!

What part of that don't you understand?

It was written on there for guys that have NO CLUE as to what they should be doing!

Big JIm

 

[Ranger44]

Before I replaced mine, it read about were yours was.

With a new switch/sensor it's a bit higher....like around the R sometimes the M on really hot days.

 

[Ballistik]

Ranger 44 Thanks I appreciate it. BIG JIM your truley an ass and have no clue. I could read in normal and still be way off. Thats what I am tryingto find out and see what others cam up with. If the Meter is bad then it wont read properly there for it wouldnt be normal. So go back and put your head back up your ass.

 

[Big Jim M]

Balli If the temp was way off it wouldn't read NORMAL! Our engines have temp swings as much as 30* This temp swing would confuse guys that think their engine should be this or that temp.. So Ford wisely wrote NORMAL on the gauge to eliminate any confusion on the operating temperature. They did this because guys complained about having a red light on the dash that only came on when the temp was way to high.

The gauge is just to make guys happy thinking they have a gauge.. and not an emergency light. If the gauge actually had temp marks and really worked properly, guys would be complaining that their engine jumped up and down in temperature.. not knowing of the 30* possible swings in temp.

So what does Ford get? They get guys complaining that THEIR needle is on the 'O' and others they know of are on the 'R'.. I guess there is no sleep for the wicked.

Big Jim

 

[Downey]

dude jim you have no idea what the problem is. my truck did this to till last weekend. i told my buddy that a professional mechanic right above the tstat is the coolant temp sensor. mine was all green with corrosion so what the connection. my truck sat and idled for almost an hour in my garage because i thought i had a coolant leak and we were looking for leaks. the i told him my gauge never would read about the n in normal. he said well lets look at the sensor so we pulled the wire and a bunch of shit was on the connection we cleaned it up and put it pack on and now my gauge is reading correct. i know i over heated my truck and the needled never moved past the n in normal.


so to fix your problem check that sensor and if its green or just really bad corroded clean it up and clean up the connection and take it for a drive.

 

[Jspafford]

Balli If the temp was way off it wouldn't read NORMAL! Our engines have temp swings as much as 30* This temp swing would confuse guys that think their engine should be this or that temp.. So Ford wisely wrote NORMAL on the gauge to eliminate any confusion on the operating temperature. They did this because guys complained about having a red light on the dash that only came on when the temp was way to high.

The gauge is just to make guys happy thinking they have a gauge.. and not an emergency light. If the gauge actually had temp marks and really worked properly, guys would be complaining that their engine jumped up and down in temperature.. not knowing of the 30* possible swings in temp.

So what does Ford get? They get guys complaining that THEIR needle is on the 'O' and others they know of are on the 'R'.. I guess there is no sleep for the wicked.

Big Jim

If you have NO idea about the question, don't answer it.

Factory guages are junk. It is going to read normal until it overheats, then it will slowly run up to H (if your lucky).

It is nothing but a glorified dummy light.

Do the smart thing, buy a $20 temp guage and install it. You can watch the exact temp, hell I can even watch my thermostat open and the temp drop.

 

[Ballistik]

OK guys I will take a look at the connection and if that doesnt fix it I will try a new gauge. Big Jim I think your mom is calling you up from the basement for dinner. Just stop replying because your just wasting your time with me.

 

[Big Jim M]

OK guys I will take a look at the connection and if that doesnt fix it I will try a new gauge. Big Jim I think your mom is calling you up from the basement for dinner. Just stop replying because your just wasting your time with me.

I am begenning to realize that! For the life of me I can't understand why you would want the needle in a certain place on the word NORMAL. Ford wrote it thataway so small deviences would still be in the NORMAL location.
You already know that your temp in THAT location truly is NORMAL..so why worry about a little deviation..
But I guess each to his own.. So have a good time.
Big JIm