running cold damage?

[expo5.0]

it is now getting a little colder around 60 at night here in phoenix. no matter how long i drive my x it doesn't heat up. the temperature gauge never gets up above about 1/8. can i do any damage driving it without having it heat up any more than that. or does that just mean i am getting a good cold air into my engine.

 

[ok89]

Probably means your gage or sending unit is going or already gone.

 

[RTStork]

My S10 does that when its cold outside. It has over 100,000 miles on it, and its still runnig fine, so i doubt you are hurting anything. If it bothers you, you can change the 160* thermostat for a 180*.

 

[Stephen S]

Might also mean that you need to change your thermostat.

 

[expo5.0]

yeah, its not the sending unit or the thermostat going out, its just that with the improved air flow and lower stat it just stays colder than ford envisioned. can the truck be damaged if it doesn't heat up? i'm pretty sure it can't be here in phoenix (it doesn't get that cold) but back home in minnesota could this become a problem?

 

[Stephen S]

I don't think it will be damaged by running colder, but you'll probably find that the gas mileage is worse since the engine is not running at its optimum operating temperature.

 

[expo5.0]

you mean it actually won't combust the gas as well if it is colder?

 

[Stephen S]

Pretty sure.

 

[yob_yeknom]

Yeah, hotter is better. You get better mileage and more power both the hotter the engine runs. The best time an engine will ever run is right before it blows up from over heating. Engines are designed to run at as close to that temperature as possible without risking getting too hot.

 

[expo5.0]

so when i go home for a minnesota winter, i better seriously consider changing my thermostat. for now i'm sure it will be warmer tomorrow here in phoenix.

 

[MikeP]

The gas miliage might be decreased at lower engine operating temperatures caused by the computer (which has an temperature sensor reading input to the computer) operating the air/fuel ratio somewhat "rich", thinking the engine is still in the warm-up mode and needing a little more fuel to run smoothly. And as others have posted, it might merely be the temp sensor giving an incorrect gage temp reading. I had this problem on my 91 XLT Explorer. Mike in Seattle