At waht tempature should the tempature light come on

[JamesD]

I know water will boil at about 220F. So overheating is maybe around 230F? Honestly, I don't trust just a temperature light and soon adding an electric gauge. Right now the engine seems to be running too cool. Temp light does come on at start up so it is working. As for the sender who knows? Sigh..this little pickup is turning into a project. Yes, I knew this when I bought him.

86 Ford Ranger, 2.0 Lima

 

[NoahS]

Overheating is closer to 260, maybe more. Pure water at atmospheric pressure boils at 212 F give or take, the addition of antifreeze not only lowers the freezing point it also raises the boiling point of the water in the coolant system. On top of the change from the antifreeze the high pressure the system operates at raises the boiling temperature too.

EDIT: That doesn't mean it isn't better to keep the engine closer to 220, it just isn't borderline overheating

 

[yourdudeness]

you need to rethink the point boiling temp? what pound lbs is the radiator cap ? a 15 pound cap will raise boiling temp 45 degrees there are a few variables to think about, every pound will increase three degrees