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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Rock Island, IL
Posts: 17
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Engine Temp Question
So I have a question about the temperature gauge. Temp gauge never worked until I realized it wasn't hooked up. Found the wire for it and hooked it up the other day. After driving the truck around for awhile the needle would only go up a quarter of the way on the gauge. Truck by this point should've been up to operating temperature. My question is, what does your gauge normally show for a warm engine? If it is higher than what mine is showing, what else should I look at? Could the sending unit need to be replaced, or the t-stat? I do have plenty of heat when I turn the heater on. Not sure what degree t-stat I've got. Here's a picture showing just how far up the needle made it. Truck is a '77 with a 305. Thanks! -Evan
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Plumas Lake, CA
Posts: 386
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Re: Engine Temp Question
yours is right about where mine usually is
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: laurel hill Fl
Posts: 645
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Re: Engine Temp Question
Mine has the numbers. but that's about 160 where mine sits. normal.
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1985 C10 Custom Deluxe LWB 305/700r4 [ Goldfinger ] ![]() 1999 k3500 crew cab dually 6.5tdi/4l80e |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Austin, Arkansas
Posts: 248
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Re: Engine Temp Question
Yeah,my '85 with the 305H sits right there,too,unless I'm pulling the trailer,and then it might go up a bit.
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Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it? |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Rock Island, IL
Posts: 17
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Re: Engine Temp Question
Thanks for the input...guess I won't worry about it then. Probably wouldn't hurt to get a coolant flush done at some point though. Maybe I'll change the thermostat at that point.
-Evan |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 75
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Re: Engine Temp Question
I have a 180 stat & mine is on the first quarter mark. Checking ohms of the sender says it's 180. I have a question though. I have two of the gauges with the numbers instead of the C & H. I tried both & they both read the same but higher than the C&H gauge. They both read between the 180 & 210. Closer to 210 actually. What up with that? Could the gauges with the numbers just read higher?
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Troy 1982 Silverado |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Tulsa,Okla
Posts: 590
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Re: Engine Temp Question
Mine reads 100 for the low, 210 in the middle, then 260 for the high. I've seen several different variations of the fact gauges. It all depends on how they are set or graduated from the factory. If mine was in the middle you'd think it would read 130 but that is not so. Mine runs a little above the quarter mark and I assume that's 160-180 hard to tell.
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"Whoever said money can't buy happiness has obviously never seen a speed shop! |
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#8 |
Just here to tinker
![]() Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Holland, MI
Posts: 3,679
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Re: Engine Temp Question
My truck runs at the quarter mark as well.
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#9 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,920
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Re: Engine Temp Question
I plotted the resistance (Y) vs coolant temp (X) of the GM sender in excel based on some published sender data. The data starts at 20 degrees and ends at 250 degrees. This gives a more visual representation of the non linear sender behavior.
The fuel sender is an interesting weighted curve as well. The first @11/16 of the tank sweeps across 1/2 tank on the gauge. At 1/2 tank shown you only really have just over a 1/4 tank left. At E you still have 1-1.5 gallons reserve. According to one of my GM service news in the mid 70's (somewhere between 73 & 75) GM weighted the fuel gauge this way to give the impression of better fuel mileage. My F250 plow trucks' fuel gauge is weighted the same way. Last edited by hatzie; 03-07-2012 at 10:49 AM. |
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