Too hot?

[sage2k]

94 gt vert

In the middle of the day during the heat on the interstate with a/c on my car will go up to the A in NORMAL on the temp gauge. How hot is that in degrees roughly? And is it too hot for extended driving (1 hour).

at night when its cooler the temps are usually around the halfway mark or even lower sometimes

 

[94TURBO5 O]

Do what Chris just did. Your temps are around ~220*.

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?p=5328263#post5328263

 

[sage2k]

is 220~ bad?

 

[S/CBlack95GT]

is 220~ bad?

No. As long as it stays in the "Normal" range you should be ok, unless the gauge or sensor is bad.

 

[ROLLIN5.0]

Mine stays on the N, even in 100 degree heat, unless I do extended high RPM runs, but never up to the A. I have a new stock radiator, new water pump, a 160* thermostat, and the car is running a little rich. A lean condition can cause excessive heat. It isn't going to blow up sitting at the A, but I would definately put some attention into doing things to help the motor cool more efficiently. You'll be better off in the long run. I wouldn't do the switch install. A properly maintained cooling system can keep the temperatures down without having to go that route.
Brandon

 

[HISSIN50]

I would note that if this is occuring on the highway, the fan wont help ya' much. Your radiator is not rejecting enough heat or an ancillary component is not up to par.

Do you have the chin spoiler under the car? It helps at speed. Is the cooling system holding pressure? That pressure raises the effective boiling point through the sweet spot this time of year (takes one from ~212-220*F to 250-265*F).

What kind of revs are you turning? Do you have the anti-collapse springs in the radiator hoses? if not, you might be collapsing hoses (esp the lower hose from the radiator).

Just random stuff. Good luck.

 

[sage2k]

Im not sure what all i have for cooling, its still a new car to me and im not familiar with alot of parts yet. I dont hit the interstate much anyways just once a week or every other week. Temps are usually at the halfway point around the city (what temp would that be roughly?)

 

[HISSIN50]

Some of the TwEECer guys have established reference points for what the letters on the stock temp gauge equate to. I dont even care to try and interpolate that POS.

Since you related being on the Interstate in your original post (or I misread something), I figured you were only seeing this issue at speed. Psychic JR knew better and I would follow his advice with fan switches. The fan's become ineffective (actually an impediment) at ~35 MPH+.

Having a real gauge is a very very nice thing IMHO. that would be where I start (nothing like infering info for diagnostics from an inaccurate gauge).
Good luck.

 

[HoofnIt]

An electric autometer temp gauge is around 40 bucks and is REALLY nice to know what temp the car is running.

 

[sage2k]

can you link me to the temp gauge?
Thanks everyone!

 

[HISSIN50]

There are a zillion AM temp gauges. You can hit up AM's site or Summit's site and figure out what you want (size and mech vs mech). I MUCH prefer mech temp gauges myself (I dont mind electric OP though). That is just a quirk I have.

Good luck.

 

[HoofnIt]

I guess I was off a little. Summit sells this phantom gauge for 56 bucks. Here the link.

 

[HoofnIt]

The electric water temp gauge is easier to install because it does not have the large diameter sensor on the end but they are more accurate. In my opinion the electric one is hands down better than the stocker and is easier to install.