Factory Temperature Gauge--Where is "Normal"?

[badpeanut]

With the factory temperature guage, where is "normal" operating temperature? Where is 180°F? Where is 200°F?


In this picture, is this too hot?


Is "too hot" only when the needle makes it to the shaded zone at the upper end?

It sure would be nice if there was some way to have a factory replacement gauge with actual temperature markings...

[Nelson]

I like to know too!

[Paul72]

I've got a 160 degree thermostat in mine, and it barley clears the two lines on the cold side. Mine has never made it half way up - even on the hottest day.

[Canadian694x4]

I can't seem to post a pic but mine sits in between Cool and the border of the mid range(in the cool Range always)...but with that said that's usually after the trucks been running for a few hours....IMO I'd be a little worried if my temp gauge was reading that high...but again my truck runs usually cool. Could it be the type of thermostat cuasing it to read that high but not "HOT"?

[71chevylongbed]

when does it get that hot when idleing or driving?

[badpeanut]

I have a 180°F thermostat, new Modine 4-row radiator, new heater core, new hoses, new 16lb radiator cap, and original sending unit, but it will creep up that high when I get stuck in traffic on hot days (not days like today...). I have a good fan shroud and a clutch fan. I'm guessing airflow problem? Maybe I need a new fan clutch (or fixed fan or flex fan)?

What is best for cooling--clutch fan, flex fan, or fixed fan? I don't want to go electric. I would like to hear other's experiences.

[tom hand]

Can't see the pic ...where is the needle? "Normal" on GM gauges tends to be staight up

[badpeanut]

The needle is in the upper third of the middle zone (past straight up).

[Paul72]

It could be the gauge too. I'm not sure how you would check/calibrate it.

[badpeanut]

The needle sits in the lower third of the middle zone (sounds more normal from the posts above) when I'm rolling down the road in warm weather.

[71chevylongbed]

on my truck the needle never moves even close to straight up even when ideling in 100 degree weather. usually it is just alittle above the cold side and never much hotter than that

[1969 GMC]

Originally posted by 71chevylongbed
on my truck the needle never moves even close to straight up even when ideling in 100 degree weather. usually it is just alittle above the cold side and never much hotter than that

same here, but mine overheated once in Taco Bell drive thru, i was about 1/2 gallon low on antifreeze, and do not know how this happened...but its only happened once.

[SWEET7T]

Mine will barely get into the shaded part and I'm running a 180 t-stat. During the summer, before I took out my heat riser, it would be a little hotter, but I never got the needle to be vertical.

[Hooter]

I dunno, never trusted the guage, I lnow it works fine, just too vague for me, I have an ultrapro guage mounted on the bottom of the das, so I know for sure what is going on in there

[magoo72]

straight up !you you better have a gallon of coolant w/ya thats hot i run a 190 stat and it barely goes to 1/4

[magoo72]

what i cant figure out is ........how to keep that gas gauge on the rite side,it just creeps down every day till it will just die!!or am i high! i like to get on it real hard and make it snap yuor head back against the rear window and it pulls you deep down into the seat and you hold it as long as you can ,then you let off and fell the adrenlan flow through your body. makes you wanna do a big ole burn out,and just smoke the place all up till ya cant see nuttin!!

[Blazer1970]

They are not accurate, and they are all a little different. Did you ever wonder why there are no numbers on there? The best thing to do is get your engine up to operating temp then carefully remove the rad. cap using a rag. Stick in a thermometer (usually the meat thermometer works good) and check the coolant temp. It should be right at the thermostat temp. Now you know where 180 or 195 is on the gauge.