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Temperature Gauge Issues



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 9th 05, 12:39 AM
Pentastar
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Default Temperature Gauge Issues

I drive a Plymouth Sundance 2.5. I'm having several issues with my
temperature gauge. My car doesn't seem to actually overheat, but the
temperature gauge reads on the high side sometimes. This seems to only
happen in hotter weather when cruising the freeway at higher speeds
(and also when running the A/C as well). Basically, when I'm just
driving normally around town and stuff on smaller highways, my temp
gauge usually stays at about 180-185 degrees (I have a 180 degree
thermostat) when going down the road and fan comes on at 211 degrees
when stopped.

Now when I drive at higher speeds on the highway (like 80 MPH or so)
for a while, my temperature gauge will rise to about 200 degrees (1/2
on gauge) and peak at about 210 degrees (a little over halfway) when
cruising. This is a little more obvious with the A/C running. And when
I stop at red lights or sit in a parking lot (mainly after extended
highway cruises), the engine heats up to what appears to be 225 degrees
(almost the 3/4 mark) and the fan comes on and cools it back down to
195. When driving around town for a long time (w/o interstate driving),
my temperature gauge will usually stay at around 190 degrees when
driving down the road.

The temperature gauge doesn't do any fast swings, though.

My thermostat is most certainly opening properly. When the temperature
rises over 210 degrees, the upper radiator hose feels hot, so the
thermostat is open. Usually, when the temperature gauge gets to 180
degrees (1/4 mark) when I first start driving, the upper radiator hose
becomes hot. So, the thermostat opens on time. All of the air is bled
out of the system (I drilled a small hole on top of thermostat to
self-bleed the air).

Late last year, I had the head gasket changed, head resurfaced, and a
valve job done. Early this year, I replaced the radiator, hoses, and
radiator cap. I changed the thermostat last week. I replaced the
alternator belt (which drives water pump) several days ago. My coolant
was changed earlier in the year when radiator was installed.

Is this behavior normal? Could the temperature gauge be rising after
extended periods of time primarily because there's extra load on the
engine and the weather is hot (I live in the south)?

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  #2  
Old July 9th 05, 12:48 AM
Shep
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Posts: n/a
Default

Yes, your thinking seems on target, can't have the same cooling system
efficiency after x years. Also check the fins on the ac condenser for being
flattened or clogged, particularly at the bottom.
"Pentastar" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I drive a Plymouth Sundance 2.5. I'm having several issues with my
> temperature gauge. My car doesn't seem to actually overheat, but the
> temperature gauge reads on the high side sometimes. This seems to only
> happen in hotter weather when cruising the freeway at higher speeds
> (and also when running the A/C as well). Basically, when I'm just
> driving normally around town and stuff on smaller highways, my temp
> gauge usually stays at about 180-185 degrees (I have a 180 degree
> thermostat) when going down the road and fan comes on at 211 degrees
> when stopped.
>
> Now when I drive at higher speeds on the highway (like 80 MPH or so)
> for a while, my temperature gauge will rise to about 200 degrees (1/2
> on gauge) and peak at about 210 degrees (a little over halfway) when
> cruising. This is a little more obvious with the A/C running. And when
> I stop at red lights or sit in a parking lot (mainly after extended
> highway cruises), the engine heats up to what appears to be 225 degrees
> (almost the 3/4 mark) and the fan comes on and cools it back down to
> 195. When driving around town for a long time (w/o interstate driving),
> my temperature gauge will usually stay at around 190 degrees when
> driving down the road.
>
> The temperature gauge doesn't do any fast swings, though.
>
> My thermostat is most certainly opening properly. When the temperature
> rises over 210 degrees, the upper radiator hose feels hot, so the
> thermostat is open. Usually, when the temperature gauge gets to 180
> degrees (1/4 mark) when I first start driving, the upper radiator hose
> becomes hot. So, the thermostat opens on time. All of the air is bled
> out of the system (I drilled a small hole on top of thermostat to
> self-bleed the air).
>
> Late last year, I had the head gasket changed, head resurfaced, and a
> valve job done. Early this year, I replaced the radiator, hoses, and
> radiator cap. I changed the thermostat last week. I replaced the
> alternator belt (which drives water pump) several days ago. My coolant
> was changed earlier in the year when radiator was installed.
>
> Is this behavior normal? Could the temperature gauge be rising after
> extended periods of time primarily because there's extra load on the
> engine and the weather is hot (I live in the south)?
>




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  #3  
Old July 9th 05, 01:06 AM
Pentastar
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Over the last six months, I replaced pretty much every cooling system
component. I will check the fins on the A/C condenser, though. I did
clean the crap off of the fins about 6 months ago with a garden hose,
but I'm not sure how many flat spots there were on there.

And is there anything that could make the engine generate more waste
heat than normal? I have Cold Air Intake scoops on my car.

  #4  
Old July 9th 05, 12:41 PM
Frank Knight
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Change the temp sender.
"Pentastar" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I drive a Plymouth Sundance 2.5. I'm having several issues with my
> temperature gauge. My car doesn't seem to actually overheat, but the
> temperature gauge reads on the high side sometimes. This seems to only
> happen in hotter weather when cruising the freeway at higher speeds
> (and also when running the A/C as well). Basically, when I'm just
> driving normally around town and stuff on smaller highways, my temp
> gauge usually stays at about 180-185 degrees (I have a 180 degree
> thermostat) when going down the road and fan comes on at 211 degrees
> when stopped.
>
> Now when I drive at higher speeds on the highway (like 80 MPH or so)
> for a while, my temperature gauge will rise to about 200 degrees (1/2
> on gauge) and peak at about 210 degrees (a little over halfway) when
> cruising. This is a little more obvious with the A/C running. And when
> I stop at red lights or sit in a parking lot (mainly after extended
> highway cruises), the engine heats up to what appears to be 225 degrees
> (almost the 3/4 mark) and the fan comes on and cools it back down to
> 195. When driving around town for a long time (w/o interstate driving),
> my temperature gauge will usually stay at around 190 degrees when
> driving down the road.
>
> The temperature gauge doesn't do any fast swings, though.
>
> My thermostat is most certainly opening properly. When the temperature
> rises over 210 degrees, the upper radiator hose feels hot, so the
> thermostat is open. Usually, when the temperature gauge gets to 180
> degrees (1/4 mark) when I first start driving, the upper radiator hose
> becomes hot. So, the thermostat opens on time. All of the air is bled
> out of the system (I drilled a small hole on top of thermostat to
> self-bleed the air).
>
> Late last year, I had the head gasket changed, head resurfaced, and a
> valve job done. Early this year, I replaced the radiator, hoses, and
> radiator cap. I changed the thermostat last week. I replaced the
> alternator belt (which drives water pump) several days ago. My coolant
> was changed earlier in the year when radiator was installed.
>
> Is this behavior normal? Could the temperature gauge be rising after
> extended periods of time primarily because there's extra load on the
> engine and the weather is hot (I live in the south)?
>



  #5  
Old July 9th 05, 03:47 PM
Don Stauffer
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Pentastar wrote:
> Over the last six months, I replaced pretty much every cooling system
> component. I will check the fins on the A/C condenser, though. I did
> clean the crap off of the fins about 6 months ago with a garden hose,
> but I'm not sure how many flat spots there were on there.
>
> And is there anything that could make the engine generate more waste
> heat than normal? I have Cold Air Intake scoops on my car.
>

Keep in mind that modern engines are supposed to run hotter than older
ones. When I was a kid, there were two thermostats, a 160 for people
who used alcohol for antifreeze, and 180 for those who used glycol.

A hotter engine is more efficient (thermodynamic efficiency, not
volumetric efficiency), so mfgs raised temerature through the years as
improved oils and metals were available. A modern engine should run at
least 190- 210 is not unreasonable.

Cold air intake scoops are primarily to affect volumetric efficiency-
cooling the incoming air charge- rather than engine cooling. In fact, a
cooler intake charge actually generates more engine heat at a given
throttle opening than a warmer charge, 'cause the charge density is
higher and more fuel and air are being burned each revolution. It would
be hard to see the difference in the temp gauge, however.
 




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