How far on the NORMAL is to hot?

[emagdnim]

Hey ,

At what point is it considered to hot when driving the stang around? Mine is normally between teh M and the R but sometimes goes to the upper R when if I am hard on it then have to slow down in traffic , however it eventually will go back down idling in traffic between the R and M.

Thanks

 

[vristang]

Jugding the coolant temp based on the stock gauge is a little sketchy according to most people.
I like to run at 200F (the middle line). Once you start getting over 220-230F you should be getting pretty nervous. However it will depend a great deal on the condition of your motor/cooling system as to whether or not you will overheat, or do other damage.
I don't remember where the lettering is in relation to the hash marks on the gauge so I am a little lost as to what temps you are running right now. If no one describes them in the mean time, I will look in the morning on the way to work.
What temp is your t-stat? Is everything else stock?

jason

 

[emagdnim]

I have a 190 t-stat in the car right now as winter is coming , Everything else is stock that isnt in my sig.

 

[HISSIN50]

FWIW, my stock gauge read as much as 35* too cool. A real gauge is a must IMHO.
I agree with Jason's absolute temp ranges.

Good luck.

 

[sgarlic]

JT has the correct answer.. as usual.

 

[DMAN302]

Follow JT's advice...and don't assume because you have a "x" degree tstat that your stock gauge is reading wrong, you need a true temp gauge on there to see what's really happening.

 

[srothfuss]

Isn't the red line on the stock gauge considered hot? (according to the gauge I mean)

My car in all of it's stockness: the gauge never goes above the 2nd line from the bottom... Gotta love the stock gauges.

 

[90mustangGT]

Yup, go with JT's (Hissin50) advise like everone is saying. The stock electric gauge is not accurate and can be altered by things such as a bad ground. My stock gauge used to go up a letter when I turned on the headlamps.

When you do get a temp guage, you want to be between 180-195* as an ideal conditon. When you get around 230-240* is when you should shut it down.

Also you said that the car will cool when idleing and low throttle but heats up when your getting on it. I would suggest a new radiator. I got a AFCO unit for $170, worth every penny. Maby wait until summer comes around again.

 

[RYC CUKR]

Like everyone else has said get a real gauge. I went with a autometer mechanical.

 

[darthcual]

I love how the stock gauge says NORMAL all the way thru the range, so, using my powers of deduction it doesnt matter what the stock gauge says. :SNSign:

 

[rd]

All of the 200,000 plus miles I have driven my 79 have been on the stock temp gage. Has been annoying a few times. The 79 service manual does give a conversion between ohms of the sensor and temp, if you have to check the gage or sender. I don't remember the numbers right now.

All that said, it if is running around the O or the R, its ok with me. On my old 77 F150, this corresponded to 190 to 200 or so, with a 180 thermostat, I think. When towing, it it got to the M, I would slow down.

I will probably put a better gage in my 82, so I can get the engine temp the same at the track.

 

[HISSIN50]

RD, do the older foxes use an IVR like some of us are saddled with?
That IVR and the lack of sender and gauge calibration seem to make the gauges quite hysteretic (which calms owners' minds. If the needles move, people bring the cars into the dealership).

 

[Michael Yount]

Keep driving with the stock gauge, and if it overheats and they ask you how hot it got, just tell them it reached " A degrees Farenheit"...you see the problem?

Solution --- R E A L G A U G E