Temperatures?

[tbunch]

Looking for some feedback to see what others see regularly. 94 ranger 4.0 ohv, new wp, radiator, hoses, thermostat, fan and fan clutch along with full stock overhaul of the motor within 2k miles.

Usually runs on the cool side (below half, but I can say what temp since I didn't get a temp gun on it until it seemed to be running hot) temps today tipped 100 for the first time outside and running the ac full blast at 75mph for the 18mi of freeway home and I'm running at about 2/3 on the gauge. Got the IR gun and I'm reading about 205 on both rad hoses and a toasty 220+ at the base of the thermostat housing. Seems a little to warm for me, but possibly for the strain of so fast+ac+hot outside this is normal? Just looking for what others see under similar conditions. I'll double check the coolant once it cools for a bit, but I've never lost a drop and with all the new parts I hoped I'd be running at 1/2 no matter what I tried to make the truck do haha.

Thanks!

 

[Angie]

Hi, can't help you much but wanted to ask what your antifreeze/coolant is set at? grab the anti freeze meter gauge and test it for proper mix. I run a mechanical gauge that is sending unit from the electric sending spot. never goes over 210 with out ac (don't have it) Never trusted the electric gauges. This is with a 195 degree thermostat. then again our outside temp doesn't get over 100 often.

cheers

 

[tbunch]

That's a good thought, checked it recently but just pulled a little tonight and still running a good 40/60 mix (roughly) heavy on the coolant side. What you said is about what I was looking to hear though, if it runs ar or below 200-210 without ac in cooler weather then I'm not too concerned with what I would estimate is a steady 210 with a/c under heavy load in hot weather.

I also distrust the electric gauges and wasn't sure if the jump of the needle represented a much larger temp increase, seems like the leap from halfway up to 2/3 is probably only a jump of about 10 degrees. Thanks for your input. I'll give it another check in the morning after the same drive but without the hot temp or ac, I'd expect to see around 195-200.

 

[Angie]

another thought... how is your clutch fan? is it getting loose and worn? this only has to do with slower driving thou.

cheers

 

[RonD]

My '94 4.0l runs just below 1/2 after full warm up.

Climbing longer hills will put it above 1/2 on warmer days, above 80deg, but not up to 2/3rds, seems high, but 220degF is OK after a load.
I think 1/2 on Ford temp gauge is about 200-210deg

Lower rad hose should be 10-20deg cooler than upper hose, 10deg just idling and up to 20deg lower with vehicle speed air flow, make sure condenser fins are clean, not blocked with dirt or debris, so you are getting max air flow and max cooling

Fan shroud is very important for rad cooling, and fan clutch operation.

 

[hank857]

Sounds about right, remember the manual says anything within the arc is normal even to the high side. Mine also runs a little on warm side when OAT is high.

 

[tbunch]

Sounds good to me, I'll not worry about it, all cooling components are new as mentioned in the first post, ac condenser was pretty clear before but I'll give it another check over. I did put a temp gun on it this morning after my drive to work, early morning it was below 70 outside and I got about 185 at the rad hoses as opposed to the 205 yesterday in the same place. Figure that means all is normal, if it was a true overheat due to a mechanical failure it would still be running hot. Driving home it started creeping up again, turned off the ac and it returned to center shortly after.