What is the normal operating temp?

[layinthesmack31]

Hey guys
Well all winter long my car has heated up great and never had any probs there but my temp gauge never goes any higher than the L on Normal and i was wondering if this is what it is supposed to be at. I have notcied a MPG drop but i thought it was because of the heater running more since it was winter. I just wanted to know if what everyone else's gauges were reading. Sorry for the dumb question but it just bugs me now cause the gas prices are going back up . please any help is greatly appreciated. thanks

Matt

 

[fricker66]

Normal operating temp as shown on the factory gauge is slightly different for each SHO. However, only getting to the L is on the low side. If you're also noticing a drop in MPG then it's very likely that the thermostat is stuck open and the enginge stays in warm-up mode and runs rich. If the t-stat is a few years old, it's worth replacing anyway. See the various writeup on www.shotimes.com regarding failures of the t-stats.

 

[masho95]

Definitely change out that stuck t-stat. When mine was stuck open it would barely reach the "L" even after a 30-40min ride and I was getting luke warm air to blow out from the heater.

 

[layinthesmack31]

i will definetly change it out once it gets back from the shop. It is in there because it really started bucking on me last night when i drove it and i would stop and it would stay running for a minute then die. but if i kept it revved it would stay running. It is acting like the same thing my thunderbird did when the Camshaft position sensor went out. i hope they figure it out cause i need my car i got a date saturrday hahaha. well thanks guys.

Matt

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

Could be a Thermostat, but it could also be the ECT, when mine went bad it would stay really close to the L

 

[sdpatt]

Not so fast on the need to replace the thermostat. The 180F 'stat on my 1991 positions the needle on the temperature gauge just below the "L" of NORMAL. I have confirmed this reading with an RTD probe at the thermostat and ETC sensor piping on more than one occasion. As long as the gauge reaches this level within a few short minutes after starting the engine and maintains at least this level under all driving conditions and does not exceed approximately the "R" on NORMAL, then the thermostat is doing its job correctly.

 

[masho95]

layinthesmack31:
i will definetly change it out once it gets back from the shop. It is in there because it really started bucking on me last night when i drove it and i would stop and it would stay running for a minute then die. but if i kept it revved it would stay running. It is acting like the same thing my thunderbird did when the Camshaft position sensor went out. i hope they figure it out cause i need my car i got a date saturrday hahaha. well thanks guys.

Matt

Same thing on our cars. It's the CMP sensor.

 

[projectSHO89]

masho95:

layinthesmack31:
i will definetly change it out once it gets back from the shop. It is in there because it really started bucking on me last night when i drove it and i would stop and it would stay running for a minute then die. but if i kept it revved it would stay running. It is acting like the same thing my thunderbird did when the Camshaft position sensor went out. i hope they figure it out cause i need my car i got a date saturrday hahaha. well thanks guys.

Matt

Same thing on our cars. It's the CMP sensor.

That's because the T-Bird SC has the same DIS ignition system as does the SHO.

Steve

 

[89SHOMAN666]

The only time the temp gauge on my SHO went up at all high was when I burst a fuel line. A rock got clogged up in the rail that holds the fuel line punctured it and the car started to run a little strange. Then the temp gauge started creeping up and up and up, etc. I waited until it was running a little under the H because I thought the thermostat was stuck. Then I realized it wasn't that, shut the car off and realized that it had a burst fuel line. It must have been running quite lean. That was many miles ago, and I have had no problems with it since I fixed it. Lucky I didn?t hurt anything! Just think what would have happened if I had not been paying attention!!!! My SHO's great 88K and no oil consumption!

Later,

<small>[ April 01, 2004, 08:12 PM: Message edited by: 89SHOMAN666 ]</small>