Not quite overheating

[p100ki]

I tuned up my '95 XLT a couple days ago and fixed the 4wd. While i was at it i put in a set of '01 gauges since they look nicer and light up better at night. It was fine all day but on the way home that night the temp gauge got all the way to the hot and the check gauges light came on. It would cool down when i slowed down a bit.

I figured it was the thermostat so i changed it today and now it doesn't overheat but it but i does run 3/4 up on the gauge. If i run it hard i can get it to overheat most likely. I ran it up to a little over 90 on a mud road at the farm with my foot on the floor in AWD and let off because the gauge was almost in the red. The coolant is full and the heat is hot, the radiator doesn't feel hot and the cap is also cool to the touch.

I'm open to all suggestions.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

The answer could be the gauge swap- try rigging a temporary temp gauge and see what's really going on.

 

[p100ki]

I swap these gauges for customers all the time without a problem. I'll swap the old gauges in and see what happens then.

 

[Nocturnall]

Cool to touch, are they warm or anything? Could have air in the system and coolant isn't flowing like it should....I'm just guessing though...Wouldn't rule out something being wrong with the engine....

Who's to say the old gauge was functioning properly ya know?

 

[BrooklynBay]

It could also be a bad sending unit.

 

[p100ki]

Cool to touch, are they warm or anything? Could have air in the system and coolant isn't flowing like it should....I'm just guessing though...Wouldn't rule out something being wrong with the engine....

Who's to say the old gauge was functioning properly ya know?

The cap is about room temperature, the radiator is warm but not really hot. I could put my hand on it and hold it there but it was pretty warm. It goes to my mechanic tomorrow and he's going to flush the system and go from there since i have no time to work on it myself.

I did some searching before i posted so i know the things for him to check and he's going to go from there. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[BrooklynBay]

You might like # 22 in my list of useful threads: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162848

 

[p100ki]

Thanks man, that's a little more in depth than i usually go but it's definitely sound advice.