Ok, so I had my temp gauge sent back out to get repaired (had it turned into electric) and now it seems to be reading low at about 170 degrees. I have a cheapy electric dash mount one that reads about 240 degrees. I now have no clue which one is right if either of them. I am not sure if my truck is overheating or not. The other day it was but both gauges were reading off the chart and it was overheating as indicated from the steam under the hood, but now I am not sure if I fixed the overheating issue. Anyone got any ideas how to proceed?
absolute The temp of water can be determined at two temps 32 dgrees F freezing which is not an option here and at 212 degress f boiling. With out an other temp gauge of known accuaracy Id take the radiator cap off and wait till it boils and see what the gauges read which ever is closest i the one id use to determine if your overheating or not. Im sure others will have more definitive answers for this but as crude as my suggestin is it will work. though it does change with antifreeze and other coolant additives Bill
240? Good suggestion Bill. As I understand it, these systems are not pressureized so 240 it way out of the park unless antifreeze is is over 75%. Do like Bill suggested and use a turkey therm. to check it while open. Wrong cap maybe? Rick
Thermometer Needed ! The thrift Store can be your freind ! A candy thermometer will work nicely and I often find them brandy new there for $3.00 or so . I bought an infra-red one from Harbor Freight for $19.99 (it was the $35.00 one , the girl liked me or summat) , it works fine too . You may just need to clean the cooling system better if it's boiling over - most of these old trucks have rusty silt 2" deep in the back corners of the block .
test I may be too late to be useful to you, but others may try this first: When you get your new or reworked gage take it to the kitchen first. Heat up water on the stove with a tested thermometer in the water. Put the end in the water and confirm that the gage reads the same as the kitchen therm. Adjust the heat setting on the stove to check consistency.
