Engine Temp is a tad high.

[jymwhi]

While driving the car home last night, a not so funny thing happened. I noticed the temp gage up around the "N" on the gage. I just watched it for a few minutes while still driving and it didn't get any higher, but it wouldn't drop to much either. I then decided to turn on the heater and drove it a few more miles. That helped drop it some to the "M", but that was about it. I pulled over to check if something was blocking the radiator in someway ... nothing there and the fan was defiently on. I then turned around and headed home with the heater on. The driving conditions were as follows: 7:30 in the evening, freeway driving, between 60-75 MPH, no A/C, outside temp at 63 degrees. The cooling system has been pressure tested w/ no leaks or pressure drop. And there is no high levels in the overflow bottle when the car is war either.

Just a couple of days prior to this, I went to start the car, about halfway through the fuel priming the car lost all power. The culprit was a bad connection on the NEG battery terminal. Corrected that issue and then reset the computer by: dicconnecting the battery cables, deprssing the brake pedal for 30 seconds, turning the light switch on and let it sit for 20 minutes. Turn the light switch off, reconnect the battery terminals, start the car, wait 20 seconds, turn on all accessories (lights, radio, A/C, R/W defogger etc...) and crank the wheels from left to right a coulpe of times. Then I went on a drive for about 10 miles on the freeway at 60 MPH, remaining for the most part in 4th gear. Came home and parked the car. That's it! Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[sdpatt]

If it truly is running at the elevated temperatures, you very likely have a thermostat that is not opening adequately. As long as the system is full of coolant and the car was rolling or the radiator fan was running, there is more than sufficient heat removal capacity to keep the engine at the thermostat opening temperature. Replace your t'stat with a 180 degree Motorcraft thermostat.

 

[Darkside]

Try to get an actual gauge on there to see what temp you truly have. Like Scott said, the thermostat is only around $20 and takes no more than 20 minutes. Be sure to get the Motorcraft and not a cheaper brand, it will cost more in the long run. Change the sending unit if the temp is quite different on an actual gauge.

 

[jymwhi]

Thanks a lot. It turned out to be the thermostat was not fully opening. After replacing the temp gage is back around the "L"

Thanks again!

Jim White

 

[PhysicsSHO]

Scott, isn't the Motorcraft t-stat (RT-1112) 192 degrees, not 180?

Something about the ATX taking a cooler t-stat...?

 

[Darkside]

Atx 192 and the Mtx is 180.