FR-425
Used to be a road here.
- Joined
- November 21, 2013
- Messages
- 2,665
- Reaction score
- 112
- City, State
- Phoenix, AZ.
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1994 Explorer Limited
Non-numerical temp gauge 101
To get an "eyeball" on your temp gauge, I have a trick up my sleeve.
I the morning from cold start, keep your "eyeball" on the temp gauge.
The temp will rise until it hits "thermostat" temp.
Then you will see it drop fast.
Make a mental note of that point on the gauge.
The thermostat is rated at 185 degrees. (adjust the math for different ratings i.e. 195* t-stat)
You now know the 185* mark.
210 degrees = shut down time.
So where is 210* on this gauge?
It's an educated guess.
Mine hits thermostat temp in the middle of the letter "M" that's my 185* mark.
So when/if it ever reaches the right edge of the letter "L" I'm shutting my engine off immediately.
(Educated guess) The full range of the gauge = 100%
Thermostat temp (on mine) = 75% of total sweep (which happens to be where the "M" is)
The usual range of a coolant temp gauge = 100 - 250 degrees
So if 75% of 250* = 185* (which it does) do the math.
Then 210* = 85% of total sweep.
So in my case; and probably most cases, the letter "L" is the (210*) danger zone.
These are 20 year old trucks! (results will for sure vary)
Everyone should get their "eyeball" on their temp gauge!
At 240* you are doing serious damage to the engine: Cylinder Head cracking time!
To get an "eyeball" on your temp gauge, I have a trick up my sleeve.
I the morning from cold start, keep your "eyeball" on the temp gauge.
The temp will rise until it hits "thermostat" temp.
Then you will see it drop fast.
Make a mental note of that point on the gauge.
The thermostat is rated at 185 degrees. (adjust the math for different ratings i.e. 195* t-stat)
You now know the 185* mark.
210 degrees = shut down time.
So where is 210* on this gauge?
It's an educated guess.
Mine hits thermostat temp in the middle of the letter "M" that's my 185* mark.
So when/if it ever reaches the right edge of the letter "L" I'm shutting my engine off immediately.
(Educated guess) The full range of the gauge = 100%
Thermostat temp (on mine) = 75% of total sweep (which happens to be where the "M" is)
The usual range of a coolant temp gauge = 100 - 250 degrees
So if 75% of 250* = 185* (which it does) do the math.
Then 210* = 85% of total sweep.
So in my case; and probably most cases, the letter "L" is the (210*) danger zone.
These are 20 year old trucks! (results will for sure vary)
Everyone should get their "eyeball" on their temp gauge!
At 240* you are doing serious damage to the engine: Cylinder Head cracking time!