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Keeping cooool !!

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Hi Folks,

I just wanted to add this.

My temp guage needle sits at 120 with engine turned off! It will climb up towards 190 to 200 under load (50-60mph for about 1/2hr drive): Kind of scary when it gets into 200 deg mark!!

No coolant coming out of the overflow, No steam coming out of the engine bay & No pinging etc etc showing signs of overheating; Thank Goodness!! But, still not sure what the actual temp is.

So; I`ve installed a new Thermostat (160); Had the Radiator Boiled out; New Top & Bottom hoses (Now some Assy Req`d):

A local Mechanic friend of mine has a "Thermal Heat Gun" that can check any part of the engine or cooling system to give you an accurate reading (Digital) of what the Temp. actually is; Its pretty cool!!

I`m going to be taking out my guage & see if I can "Coax" the needle back to "0" deg & see what happens. Comes this Monday; We`re going to put the heat gun on her in various locations: Radiator, Thermostat, Ea. Cyl etc etc.

Anyone here ever play with their Guage? Meaning to re-adjust/re-locate the needle itself? I understand its on a spring type of mechanism but ???

Keep Cool Folks,

Russ
 
To calibrate the gauge I take the bulb out of the engine and put it in a can of boiling tap water over the Coleman stove. I took the glass off of the face, use a fork to pop off the gauge needle and when the gauge is stable with the bulb in the boiling water I put the needle on at the "212" zone. It may be accurate no other place but I really don't care.
BillM
 
Yes, if it's accurate at 212 F it probably is pretty close at 180-190.

You can get an inexpensive infrared thermometer at Harbor Freight for a few bucks. Keep in mind that the outside of the radiator where the bulb goes into it will be a little cooler than the inside, where the temperature is measured. But at least it will tell you if the temp gauge is way off.

I have a digital multimeter with a thermocouple temp sensor. I think it cost about $60, which may be a little steep for just this purpose, but it's useful for other electrical work too.
 
Billm said:
To calibrate the gauge I take the bulb out of the engine and put it in a can of boiling tap water over the Coleman stove. I took the glass off of the face, use a fork to pop off the gauge needle and when the gauge is stable with the bulb in the boiling water I put the needle on at the "212" zone. It may be accurate no other place but I really don't care.
BillM
Click to expand...

Bill; My understanding is that you can "Re-Locate" the needle easly! You can just pop it off & replace it wherever?

Thanx, Russ
 
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