running hot!!!!!!!! help

[parson2008]

recently my 93 ranger 4.0 5-speed 4wd has been acting up, running above normal and when i say above normal i mean a little over half half on the guage, so its running on the R or M it used to run on N or a little below, now when i crank the heat it runs fine, but when i don't it climbs. i changed the radiator cap thermostat and hoses also installed a flex fan. still does the same thing. i had the intake gasket done on it about 4 months ago. its not burning or leaking any coolant. but when i don't have the heat on and i park and get out it sounds like im making popcorn in my resivoir. could this be a bad ridiator? the coolant looks pretty nasty even with having a coolant flush.

 

[gearheadjlm]

If it is staying withing the "normal" you'll be okay, but since it is reading higher then previously, I'd have the system completely flushed, and also make sure the radiator fins aren't clogged up with to many bugs, or flattened over. Also check the connection on the temp sensor.

I had a problem where mine went above normal range, however, the engine was not actually overheating. I used a non-contact thermometer to check the temp on the t-stat housing, and was getting 185-190 when my temp gauge was far past the "L." As far as the noise, try running your heat on max, and park the truck on a incline to help, and "burp" the system to get any air out.

I have not solved my problem with the gauge reading hot, but am going to try a new temp sensor and check all wires and connections.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

First thing, get a real gauge on that thing...

 

[BlackBII]

Yeah, we need to know the temperature in degrees to know if it's getting too hot or not.

 

[stx4.0]

Beanmachine is right...get a real gauge where you can actually see the temps.Just because it is in the normal range does not mean it will be ok.You have to know where your gauge normally reads when everything is working fine.Every one of these gauges I have seen all run right around the N on the gauge or not very far past,even on very hot days with the a/c running(when everything in the cooling system is working properly).I have seen so many vehicles that were overheated because the gauge was "still reading in the normal range".Anytime your gauge starts reading that far away from where it normally does and your sure its not the sending unit or gauge itself then you need to find out why and get it corrected.4.0s do not handle overheating very well.A real gauge sure does help in this area.

 

[modelageek]

recently my 93 ranger 4.0 5-speed 4wd has been acting up, running above normal and when i say above normal i mean a little over half half on the guage, so its running on the R or M it used to run on N or a little below, now when i crank the heat it runs fine, but when i don't it climbs. i changed the radiator cap thermostat and hoses also installed a flex fan. still does the same thing. i had the intake gasket done on it about 4 months ago. its not burning or leaking any coolant. but when i don't have the heat on and i park and get out it sounds like im making popcorn in my resivoir. could this be a bad ridiator? the coolant looks pretty nasty even with having a coolant flush.

I would flush it again until it gets clean........a real bad radiator might be helping it get nasty. I have heard good things about a product I think it is from napa and is called " mac" or something like that I have never used it....

 

[bmonee5]

maybe your thermostat is not opening up all the way? That would be a easy cheap thing to change out...i think i got mine for about 12 dollars and it took me about 1 hour from start to finish to change out, only mine was staying open so it would never get up to temp..