What engine temp does this gauge say?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
What engine temp does this gauge say?
here is a pic of my guages (took it while cruising this morning) and besides going to buy a most likely one time needed purpose temp gun reader....can you guys with a temp gauge like mine tell me what temp you think my guage is reading at providing it is reading correctly? We recently replaced the radiator to a DeWitts and nothing more dropping the temps on the gauge from about the 210 mark to where you see it now just below the hash mark.
btw...it is a 69 L46 original AC car that has had the motor rebuilt 13,000 miles ago. Trying to figure out if somebody stuck in a 160* or 180* thermostat.
btw...it is a 69 L46 original AC car that has had the motor rebuilt 13,000 miles ago. Trying to figure out if somebody stuck in a 160* or 180* thermostat.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by carpedm
here is a pic of my guages (took it while cruising this morning) and besides going to buy a most likely one time needed purpose temp gun reader....can you guys with a temp gauge like mine tell me what temp you think my guage is reading at providing it is reading correctly? We recently replaced the radiator to a DeWitts and nothing more dropping the temps on the gauge from about the 210 mark to where you see it now just below the hash mark.
btw...it is a 69 L46 original AC car that has had the motor rebuilt 13,000 miles ago. Trying to figure out if somebody stuck in a 160* or 180* thermostat.
btw...it is a 69 L46 original AC car that has had the motor rebuilt 13,000 miles ago. Trying to figure out if somebody stuck in a 160* or 180* thermostat.
I would guess 150-155. Seems waaay to low and your stat has nothing to do wtih it. I wouldn't have even opened.
I would guess you are either getting a bad reading from a bad sender, or the gauge is not calibrated correctly. Also, if you do get a digital laser temp reader, remember that the outside surface engine temp will vary from the coolant temps.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Aug 29, 2006 at 11:23 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
On my '76, that first mark is right about 180* so that would put you at 165 or so. Too cold.
Put a 180* thermostat in that car and get it warm enough
to run properly.
Put a 180* thermostat in that car and get it warm enough
to run properly.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I always thought that first mark was 155. I mean, it's the half way point of a 110 degree difference...55. Add that to 100 mark...and you get 155. Then, guess for the needle position, and I think about 150 is his coolant temp. Still too cold and something is off.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Winston-Salem NC
Not sure about the temp gauge, but your clock has stopped 
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist)
My '69 has registered right at that same spot when warmed up since the day I bought it 6 years ago. I replaced the sending unit with the correct one from Lectric Limited. The gauge may just be off, but I quit worrying about it. The car runs good, the heater warms up just fine in the winter. As long as it's not overheating, I'm not worrying about it!
Jeff
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist)
My '69 has registered right at that same spot when warmed up since the day I bought it 6 years ago. I replaced the sending unit with the correct one from Lectric Limited. The gauge may just be off, but I quit worrying about it. The car runs good, the heater warms up just fine in the winter. As long as it's not overheating, I'm not worrying about it!
Jeff
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
LOL!!! My clock is an electric version and luckily have not had any problems keeping track of time.
Ugghh!!! I guess I will have to buy a thermo sensor thingy to see exactly where the guage is reading. I initially thought that the has mark is 155* (half way between 100 & 210) but then I noticed the other side where it only goes to 250...so half way is about 230*. I am hoping/thinking that the 100* mark is not really all that accurate and the first hash mark is about 190* mark being (210-20) same as on the other side.
Ugghh!!! I guess I will have to buy a thermo sensor thingy to see exactly where the guage is reading. I initially thought that the has mark is 155* (half way between 100 & 210) but then I noticed the other side where it only goes to 250...so half way is about 230*. I am hoping/thinking that the 100* mark is not really all that accurate and the first hash mark is about 190* mark being (210-20) same as on the other side.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by carpedm
LOL!!! My clock is an electric version and luckily have not had any problems keeping track of time.
Ugghh!!! I guess I will have to buy a thermo sensor thingy to see exactly where the guage is reading. I initially thought that the has mark is 155* (half way between 100 & 210) but then I noticed the other side where it only goes to 250...so half way is about 230*. I am hoping/thinking that the 100* mark is not really all that accurate and the first hash mark is about 190* mark being (210-20) same as on the other side.
Ugghh!!! I guess I will have to buy a thermo sensor thingy to see exactly where the guage is reading. I initially thought that the has mark is 155* (half way between 100 & 210) but then I noticed the other side where it only goes to 250...so half way is about 230*. I am hoping/thinking that the 100* mark is not really all that accurate and the first hash mark is about 190* mark being (210-20) same as on the other side.
No, it's not a full half. Mathematically it's not middle. Leans more toward cooler than to the middle.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Brighton
Originally Posted by SanDiegoPaul
On my '76, that first mark is right about 180* so that would put you at 165 or so. Too cold.
Put a 180* thermostat in that car and get it warm enough to run properly.
Put a 180* thermostat in that car and get it warm enough
to run properly.
BTW, that means the new radiator dropped it 50 degrees!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
can somebody help out a newbie and tell what kind of temp sensor gun I need and where to point it???? or what ever else I need to check the temp on my car without going through the troubles of getting a new gauge.
I guess that maybe the previous owner stuck in a 160* thermostat in my car since the radiator was not doing its job.....
Damn...DeWitts Radiators....they work too darn good!!! LOL!!!
I guess that maybe the previous owner stuck in a 160* thermostat in my car since the radiator was not doing its job.....
Damn...DeWitts Radiators....they work too darn good!!! LOL!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by carpedm
can somebody help out a newbie and tell what kind of temp sensor gun I need and where to point it???? or what ever else I need to check the temp on my car without going through the troubles of getting a new gauge.
I guess that maybe the previous owner stuck in a 160* thermostat in my car since the radiator was not doing its job.....
Damn...DeWitts Radiators....they work too darn good!!! LOL!!!
I guess that maybe the previous owner stuck in a 160* thermostat in my car since the radiator was not doing its job.....
Damn...DeWitts Radiators....they work too darn good!!! LOL!!!
Point it at everyting. Test the water pump surface, intake manifold...heads...everything. Get an over all feel for what gets how hot on your engine. It's valuable to know that stuff. The laser gun will never be able to tell you your coolant temp though, so it may be a waste. I would say remove all doubt and replace the stat with a correct 180 or even a 190 degree unit, and see how that affects the gauge.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
From: Miami Florida
you guys dont realize that carp and myself have been in 95deg 85%humidity for the past several weeks. the 160 thermostat is mandatory here in sunny fla. well almost sunny. more correct would be sitting at home waiting for the electricity to go out after putting on the hurricaine shutters and sending the staff home for a paid day and a half vacation while production comes to a screaching halt.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by rastadr
you guys dont realize that carp and myself have been in 95deg 85%humidity for the past several weeks. the 160 thermostat is mandatory here in sunny fla. well almost sunny. more correct would be sitting at home waiting for the electricity to go out after putting on the hurricaine shutters and sending the staff home for a paid day and a half vacation while production comes to a screaching halt.
Sorry about the bad weather, My Dad and Step Mom live on Amelia Island, so I get all the stories from them too.
If the 160 is the preferred stat there, then what's the issue he's concearned with? He has a low temp, and needs a 160. Sounds like there is no problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by IMA66/74
mine always goes up to the middle at 210 and stays there 
Until I build and fire up the new motor I have no idea what it'll run. Do 400s run much hotter than 350s?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
My 383 with an aluminum rad, runs right at that mark if it gets hot out it will just go over that mark. Been running 3 yrs now no problems. I checked with an infared temp gun 30 degrees diffrence between in and out
Last edited by Artsvette73; Aug 29, 2006 at 06:39 PM.
