Engine Temp

[DarkMax]

Wondering if my the 4 banger in my 93 ranger xlt runs very cold or if i have a thermostat stuck open. After i start my ranger and i get going, the temp needle barely goes up to the line that starts the "norm" range. If i dont move the truck and let it idle, or if im in stop and go traffic, i can get the needle up just barely past that first line that starts the "norm" range on the dial. The coolant is semi new, i changed both radiator hoses about 3 months ago.


The red lines indicate operating temp(includes city driving and long highway trips)

 

[mini274]

use the search in this site theirs a thread fro i think the past two weeks that answers your question and shows how "reliable" those gauges are....

 

[Tyler M]

My 1990 Ranger has done the same thing since I've owned it, the needle never goes beyond the "N" of normal. But you turn on the heater and lots of hot heat comes out (we need that up here in Canada now that it is winter time)

 

[scotts90ranger]

that's normal, mine's been running in that range for 10 years... even with the sender from the thunderbird that was in the new engine... just note that if it ever does stand straight up you are overheating or on the verge...

 

[Hopman]

The only time I've seen my temp gauge close to the middle was on a 90 degree day in August blasting across PA doing about 75, WITH a truckload full of my sister's stuff (and my sister) headed for Indianpolis. Of course, then the thermostat opened and the temp dropped nicely.
For the record, the truck has no A/C or other junk in the way of the grill.

 

[locovaca]

As mentioned in other threads, the sender is crap. It wouldn't surprise me for a new one to be bad. My gauge did the same as yours until I replaced the sender one day, and then my gauge worked correctly. If you're up for the work the sender is a $5 part, but you have to drain the coolant to replace it.

 

[hartwrenches]

low temp

The needle in my truck sits on the line too. I checked with a temp gun and its runnin at 192 like its suppose to. I switched to an electric fan and when moving slow the gauge go's up a little till the fan turns on. I wouldn't worry about it until the gauge does something different from normal.

 

[DarkMax]

Just to update: I changed my temp sender today and now the gauge works great, thanks for the help.