Zeromarine
Active Member
- Joined
- August 12, 2019
- Messages
- 83
- Reaction score
- 11
- City, State
- Kamloops B.C
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 sport Trac xlt
On my 2002 sport trac. This may be normal but I just want to make sure. It’s been around -10 c the last few days. In this temp the truck sits outside. I drive a short 3 miles to work so it doesn’t go really far.
I have noticed though the temp gauge goes about 1/4 way up only and when driving at in town speeds it’s sometimes goes a bit lower.
It will move up and down a little when driving not a large amount.
I checked the coolant it’s full. I started it with the rad cap off and no movement so the thermostat is closed. I then went for a half hour drive today on the highway and then back through town. It starts making heat after about 3 min. Once I got on the highway the gauge was at about 1/4 and the heat was very hot so hot that when my hand was In front of the vent it was turning red it was so hot. Ok so good heat. Half way into my drive I pulled over and popped the hood and put my hand on the upper red hose it’s hot. And both of the lines going into the heater core are hot as well.
The heater control valve opens and closes fine also.
Got back o to the road and pinned it up to 70mph. And the gauge went up to half. When I leveled out at 60 it went back down to 1/4 on the gauge again makes wicked heat.
Back in town now going about 30 the gauge stays at 1/4 and at time’s goes a bit lower even if I’m going down a hill or something. When I got home I sat there at idle and the gauge again stayed at about 1/4. (I’ll insert a pic of it where it is most of the time). Anyway at idle the heat was still hot but not as hot as when moving. Still warm though. Granted my wife’s 2012 fiesta cools down from the vents a bit the same when your at idle in this temp and gets hotter when you start to drive. So I’m sure it’s normal. in the summer I believe the heat gauge is closer to the middle.
Tbink this is normal in the winter as it’s my first winter with it. Or should I change the thermostat? To me it seems to be working fine. But just wanted to get ideas from other people if they have the same thing in the cold winter. thanks.
I have noticed though the temp gauge goes about 1/4 way up only and when driving at in town speeds it’s sometimes goes a bit lower.
It will move up and down a little when driving not a large amount.
I checked the coolant it’s full. I started it with the rad cap off and no movement so the thermostat is closed. I then went for a half hour drive today on the highway and then back through town. It starts making heat after about 3 min. Once I got on the highway the gauge was at about 1/4 and the heat was very hot so hot that when my hand was In front of the vent it was turning red it was so hot. Ok so good heat. Half way into my drive I pulled over and popped the hood and put my hand on the upper red hose it’s hot. And both of the lines going into the heater core are hot as well.
The heater control valve opens and closes fine also.
Got back o to the road and pinned it up to 70mph. And the gauge went up to half. When I leveled out at 60 it went back down to 1/4 on the gauge again makes wicked heat.
Back in town now going about 30 the gauge stays at 1/4 and at time’s goes a bit lower even if I’m going down a hill or something. When I got home I sat there at idle and the gauge again stayed at about 1/4. (I’ll insert a pic of it where it is most of the time). Anyway at idle the heat was still hot but not as hot as when moving. Still warm though. Granted my wife’s 2012 fiesta cools down from the vents a bit the same when your at idle in this temp and gets hotter when you start to drive. So I’m sure it’s normal. in the summer I believe the heat gauge is closer to the middle.
Tbink this is normal in the winter as it’s my first winter with it. Or should I change the thermostat? To me it seems to be working fine. But just wanted to get ideas from other people if they have the same thing in the cold winter. thanks.
