Running hot but not overheating.

[Rockbeat]

My 1998 Ford Explorer XLT with a 4.0 SOHC V-6 is running hotter than it has in the past. It is not overheating, just running hotter than normal. I have flushed the radiator and bled the air out of the cooling system. The heater is blowing hot air just fine while running down the road and at Idle. The coolant seems to be circulating properly and there doesn't appear to be any leaks anywhere. The temperature gauge, which has no numbers, used to run about a third of the way up, now the gauge stays at about the halfway mark after the engine warms up to temperature. Is this something I should be concerned about and if so what could be the possible cause?

 

[Bobmbx]

It could be your temp sending unit is going bad, or the gage itself is starting to fail.

Monitor your overflow reservoir for a higher level when hot. You'd have to know what the "normal" level was before, though. If there's more fluid in it when hot than "normally", you're running hotter.

It could also be your thermostat isn't opening enough anymore.

 

[deweyville65]

My 96 runs about 1/2 way up when the thermostat is ready to open. Then drops to about 1/3 when ti is ready to close. I do not know why, but the temp fluctuates more on this Explorer than any other vehicle I've owned. Been that way for over two years now. Old t-stat and new one act the same way.

 

[koda2000]

all 4 of my trucks run with the needle pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the temp indicator regardless of outside temp. sounds normal to me.

 

[bill06447]

all 4 of my trucks run with the needle pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the temp indicator regardless of outside temp. sounds normal to me.

My Explorer, Mustang, and F150 do the same. Second the "normal" diagnosis. If you're still worried just tape a meat thermometer to the upper hose and see what you get for a reading. Shouldn't be over 200.

Bill

 

[Rockbeat]

Thanks for all of the help, everyone.

 

[bigcrunch]

To get an accurate temp acquire a laser temp gun, pretty cheap these days, warm up vehicle and point it at the thermostat housing.