Temperature Gauge - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Mike Quillici · 10-20-2009, 04:31 PM

Hello. My 72 350 barely registers on the temperature gauge, even after the truck has been running for a long time. I replaced a melted section of wire that was laying up against the header, but it still barely rises off the cold mark. Which is more likely to be the culprit, the temperature gauge, or the sender? I'm going to double check to make sure that the thermostat is not stuck open tonight. I don't think this would be the problem, since the truck never seems to get up to operating temperature. Any ideas???

69GMCLonghorn · 10-20-2009, 04:39 PM

Don't be surprised if that is just where it is running. When everything is in good shape, these trucks run pretty cool. Mine would run between the bottom line and the second line on the gauge all the time. In 105° weather, it MIGHT get a hair over that second line, but that's about it.

Oh, and the T-stat was not stuck open, I had plenty of heat in the colder weather and it ran just fine.

Mike Quillici · 10-20-2009, 05:03 PM

I didn't realize that they typically ran so cool. Do you happen to know what a typical operating temperature is in degrees? Eventually I'm going to install an aftermarket gauge with actual numbers on it, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Sinister · 10-20-2009, 05:15 PM

My stock 350 runs at 190 degrees.

69GMCLonghorn · 10-20-2009, 06:04 PM

I have ALWAYS run a 160° thermostat in all my old vehicles. Mine ran right at or just below the thermostat regardless of the weather. They just don't need to run hotter than that. There will be people to argue this, I'm sure.

If you find that you don't get enough heat out of it in the winter, you could drop in a 180°. I've run mine in weather right around freezing with the 160 and never had a lack of heater output though.

cparman · 10-20-2009, 06:10 PM

With the key on and the engine not running , you could ground the sending unit wire to the engine somewhere. If you do this the temp gauge should go full hot. If it does, then everything is working ( electrically) as it should. If this is the case, then you might have a thermostat that is stuck open, or not have one at all.

Mike Quillici · 10-20-2009, 06:16 PM

Cool. I will give that a try. If it does go full hot, then the problem could either be with the sender, or the thermostat, right? Thanks!

Shyguy · 10-20-2009, 07:56 PM

None of mine or my son's Chevy trucks with the stock gauges shows very much temperature with the 350.

I am sure an after market gauge would be more accurate and probably read in the 180-190 degree range.

I normally run a 180 degree thermostat in our trucks even my '92GMC K-3500 with a 454.

Danny

Mike Quillici · 10-20-2009, 09:39 PM

I just cracked open the thermostat housing, and I now know why my truck appeared to run so cold. It wasn't there. So, I picked one up, and installed it. I just want to make sure that I got the orientation right. I installed it with the spring down, into the intake manifold, and the point pointing up, into the housing. Is this correct? Thanks!

brothers69c-10 · 10-20-2009, 10:24 PM

yes that is correct

10-20-2009, 04:31 PM	#1
Mike Quillici Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 161	Temperature Gauge Hello. My 72 350 barely registers on the temperature gauge, even after the truck has been running for a long time. I replaced a melted section of wire that was laying up against the header, but it still barely rises off the cold mark. Which is more likely to be the culprit, the temperature gauge, or the sender? I'm going to double check to make sure that the thermostat is not stuck open tonight. I don't think this would be the problem, since the truck never seems to get up to operating temperature. Any ideas??? __________________ 1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take

10-20-2009, 04:39 PM	#2
69GMCLonghorn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Porter Ranch, CA Posts: 978	Re: Temperature Gauge Don't be surprised if that is just where it is running. When everything is in good shape, these trucks run pretty cool. Mine would run between the bottom line and the second line on the gauge all the time. In 105° weather, it MIGHT get a hair over that second line, but that's about it. Oh, and the T-stat was not stuck open, I had plenty of heat in the colder weather and it ran just fine.

10-20-2009, 05:03 PM	#3
Mike Quillici Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 161	Re: Temperature Gauge I didn't realize that they typically ran so cool. Do you happen to know what a typical operating temperature is in degrees? Eventually I'm going to install an aftermarket gauge with actual numbers on it, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. __________________ 1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take Last edited by Mike Quillici; 10-20-2009 at 05:18 PM. Reason: spelling

10-20-2009, 05:15 PM	#4
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Temperature Gauge My stock 350 runs at 190 degrees. __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

10-20-2009, 06:04 PM	#5
69GMCLonghorn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Porter Ranch, CA Posts: 978	Re: Temperature Gauge I have ALWAYS run a 160° thermostat in all my old vehicles. Mine ran right at or just below the thermostat regardless of the weather. They just don't need to run hotter than that. There will be people to argue this, I'm sure. If you find that you don't get enough heat out of it in the winter, you could drop in a 180°. I've run mine in weather right around freezing with the 160 and never had a lack of heater output though.

10-20-2009, 06:10 PM	#6
cparman sharp as a marble Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: atlantic beach,florida Posts: 1,082	Re: Temperature Gauge With the key on and the engine not running , you could ground the sending unit wire to the engine somewhere. If you do this the temp gauge should go full hot. If it does, then everything is working ( electrically) as it should. If this is the case, then you might have a thermostat that is stuck open, or not have one at all.

10-20-2009, 06:16 PM	#7
Mike Quillici Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 161	Re: Temperature Gauge Cool. I will give that a try. If it does go full hot, then the problem could either be with the sender, or the thermostat, right? Thanks! __________________ 1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take

10-20-2009, 07:56 PM	#8
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: Temperature Gauge None of mine or my son's Chevy trucks with the stock gauges shows very much temperature with the 350. I am sure an after market gauge would be more accurate and probably read in the 180-190 degree range. I normally run a 180 degree thermostat in our trucks even my '92GMC K-3500 with a 454. Danny __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

10-20-2009, 09:39 PM	#9
Mike Quillici Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 161	Re: Temperature Gauge I just cracked open the thermostat housing, and I now know why my truck appeared to run so cold. It wasn't there. So, I picked one up, and installed it. I just want to make sure that I got the orientation right. I installed it with the spring down, into the intake manifold, and the point pointing up, into the housing. Is this correct? Thanks! __________________ 1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take

10-20-2009, 10:24 PM	#10
brothers69c-10 Suburban Hick Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Altoona, IA Posts: 810	Re: Temperature Gauge yes that is correct __________________ Mathew 1947 Chevy 3600 1951 GMC 100 1969 Chevy C-10 396/500hp TH400 lowered 4" 1968 Imapla Custom 396/325hp TH400 "Grandmas Car" 1976 Crew Cab 4x4 diesel http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=488505 1978 Chevy K-10 454 1983 S10 4x4 "Bumblb" (Grandpa's truck) 1993 Chevy S10 V8 conversion 1990 Ford Probe Gt 1992 Dodge W-150 "Old Man's Truck" 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis-Mercruiser 2000 Ford F150 (Currently my mother drives this) 1946 Farmall H with Stan Hoist loader 1965 John Deere 110 1961 Wheel Horse " Rat Tractor"

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