Where's your temp gauge run?

[86GT-Top]

My stock one sits almost dead in the middle of the stock gauge, im not sure what temperature it is. Yesterday I installed a Auto Meter Mechanical Water Temp gauge on the pillar and put the probe in the fitting on the driverside rear of the lower intake. It seems to be sitting between 160 and 180 maybe closer to 180 and am not sure if its right. I know you cant really mess up installing a mechanical gauge, but am wondering if its because of its location difference.

 

[crunchie12268]

I have the electric autometer gauge and it runs right at 180 and sometimes a little more b/c of the underdrives. I would say everything is normal. Sounds like your stock gauge was a little screwy

 

[bryanrevans]

I just bought a 86 gt with 69k original??I drove it through the mountains north of LA and noticed it running hot just past half way on stock guage.I guess its normal but I freaked since just bought car.I did complete cooling system change and since it has been at 1\4.Thats with 180 therm and 50\50 mix.At first I put in 160 and the cpu wouldnt let it warm up I was way too rich even after like 1\2 hour running.help any????????

 

[89white50]

yea i have a 180 degree thermostat and my needle stays right above the 1st letter, i havent sat in my car in 2 months...college ...(feel lost without my baby), so i think its the L thats on the bottom....but yea whatever the 1st letter is, stays right on it thats with about a 60/40 mix

 

[BlownStangGT]

never replaced my thermostat....my gauge reads 130-150....cold as anything, it hardly ever gets really warm..160 at most

 

[HISSIN50]

the rear location is not as accurate - it sees more of a radiant heating effect. i would recommend putting the stock sender in the rear and the AM's sender in the stock location.
BTW, my lame stocker reads colder in the rear location than it did up front.

what temp stat do you have?

good luck.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Yeah the rear location isn't accurate. It read cooler than the actual temp.

Mount the mechanical gauge in the front stock location and extend the wire and relocate the stock sender to the rear just to keep the gauge working as a back-up.

My mechanical reads 188 degrees. My stock gauge shows the needle pointing to the L in NORMAL

 

[The Shape]

My stock gauge always read just a hair under the middle. My autometer electric reads 180 most of the time. Sometimes will creep up to 195 if setting in traffic with the A/C on.

 

[HISSIN50]

scary thing (for me atleast) is that the stocker would sit in the same position from ~170-210*. not nice.

 

[jpctln]

Mine runs a fraction of a mm above the half-way notch on the stocker. Anybody know what temp that is? I was never really concerned about it, but I think the whole gauge reads 130-270°.

Edit: midpt 200°. Should I be worried...?

 

[HISSIN50]

Mine runs a fraction of a mm above the half-way notch on the stocker. Anybody know what temp that is? I was never really concerned about it, but I think the whole gauge reads 130-270°.

Edit: midpt 200°. Should I be worried...?

i dont care to interpolate the stock gauge (though i have tried - it just is not accurate enough to). i used to sit a hair above the half way mark in 110* ambient temps in traffic and later found that i was much hotter than i cared to be. not cool.
a real gauge is the only way to go if you want to know what gives (and is a necessity, IMHO on any modded car or car that does not have new everything).

 

[89tang]

i dont care to interpolate the stock gauge (though i have tried - it just is not accurate enough to). i used to sit a hair above the half way mark in 110* ambient temps in traffic and later found that i was much hotter than i cared to be. not cool.
a real gauge is the only way to go if you want to know what gives (and is a necessity, IMHO on any modded car or car that does not have new everything).

My stock gauge read 180* i thought it was ok, put an autometer gauge in an i was actually at 210* or higher . With some different cooling parts now it sets at 150-160 even on a hot 90* day in traffic if i leave the fans running.

Yup any older modded or any modded car NEEDS some gauges, atleast temp, an oil pressure.

 

[281pony]

my autometer gauge reads 160-170 with the new motor (only have 14 miles on it)

stock gauge doesnt even move unless the car is blowing up. like when my head gaskets went, ad when my petcock blew out all my water. stock is a pos