Gauges and water usage?

[Full Throttle]

So my new purchase seems to have few quirks. Water temp guage barely reads up to c on guage but if pullling hard will come about 1/4 way up. I put laser on it i get 177 thats when guage reads low and after hard pulling. Also used about quart of water with two tanks of gas but dont see anyleaks and no steam from exhaust, oil looks clean. Then last thing tach stays on 3 after runing but zero out when u turn key off.

 

[swynx]

My radiator runs low for some reason. If I fill it up its guaranteed to come out the hose. It likes to sit a few inches lower than top off. Never over heats tho. Get a hotter thermostat. Or cover radiator with cardboarf

 

[Full Throttle]

Dont really mind it running cool heater blow nice and hot. Just still not really trusting it yet. Yeah sofar water emptying out overfill tank. Radiator staying full. Im just picky about my trucks like to try and fix everything wrong with them. Then you never know how other people treated the the truck before u got it.

 

[RonD]

What year and engine are we talking about?
Whats the current warm and cold outside weather temps?

Ford's run a 192 or 195degF thermostat.
So thermostat housing should be about 190+ after 10 minutes, if very cold out, under 32degF, then it could be a bit lower, shouldn't be but could be.

Every degree below 200degF is money out of your pocket, MPG will be down, EFI gasoline engines get best MPG between 200-220degF, also best lubrication.

Could be an evaporating leak, leaks on warm/hot parts won't drip to the ground, but you do have a leak, if coolant is missing.

Don't overlook overflow tank and hose, these can leak as well.

 

[Full Throttle]

Been about 20s at night and 40s in the day. Also has block heater to been pluging it n at home and work. Its a 92 4.0 4x4

 

[wildbill23c]

If your temp gauge is reading that low, its possible your thermostat is stuck open, or someone removed it completely.

As for the coolant loss, check all of your hoses, radiator itself for cracks and leaks (this is where I found my coolant leak the top inlet to the radiator was cracked right at where it goes into the radiator). Also, check to see if you have coolant in your engine oil (bad head gasket). Another leak I found on my truck was the overflow hose had a crack in it so it would leak from there. Your coolant overflow tank could be cracked as well. A bad radiator cap could be leaking coolant there as well. Even your water pump may be leaking. Heat hoses could be leaking, as well as the heater core. Tons of places to check for leaks. Coolant just doesn't disappear out of a radiator, its a sealed system normally so it won't evaporate either.