Temp Gauge Isnt Working

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Well I'm lost on Mikep's 195 theory. If you say that the guage is calibrated to a 195 degree thermostat, then you put in a 180 degree then the guage will not read the temp correctly, as in it will read too low, well if that is the case then I guess that my motor stays overheated while running, because my guage reads a little less than halfway between the last mark off cold and the mark on hot, So I guess that the 180 degree thermostat is causing the motor to run hotter than a 195 degree or no thermostat at all? Strange theory especially with a new water pump, new radiator, new hoses, new thermostat, and an aluminum intake. So what is the problem?

[mikep]

If you have a gauge that is calibrated to read in the normal range at 195 and you put in a thermostat that causes the coolant temperature be be 180 degrees then it stands to reason that the needle on the gauge is going to point to an area on the gauge that is to the left of where it pointed before ...by 15 degrees. Its a revolutionary theory I know but sort of makes sense doesnt it? If you have a gauge who's face is calibrated to read "normal" at 180 OR you have a sensor that is calibrated to have the same impedence at 180 as the original sensor did at 195 then it will read in the "normal" range of the gauge. Not everyone has matching thermostats ( determines coolant temp ) , gauge and sensors. I do not. My sensor is the original sensor calibrated at 195 , my gauge is calibrated for "normal" at 196 and my coolant temperasture never rises over 180 so my needle on my gauge doesnt go above "C" on the gauge unless I throw a belt or something to cause the motor to get hot then it definitely goes above "C".

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Well then if it points to the left of where it should when it reads normal then where is normal, halfway through it's range of motion? I Always thought it was the next slash mark off of Cold. If not then why is it there? And like I said if your theory is correct then with a 195 my guage will read even hotter than it already does, in which it would be over halfway or on Hot.

[RipMeyer]

OK let me try ONE LAST TIME.

Thae gage has nothing to do with it. Its the sending unit and thats all. That gage will work perfectly well with a 0 to 2000 deg sending unit. the scale on the gage does not indicate any specific temp, The sendig unit is the deciding factor on how your gage will read. If the sending unit is 0 deg - 5 million deg kelvin, then the top end of your STOCK GAGE is 5 million deg kelvin. The gage is only a VOLTMETER that responds to the sending unit. The only calibration for the gage would be in millivolts reference to a specific temp accoring to the type of thermocouple wire used.


My only guess as to the problem is the 12 volts is hooked up wrong or the sending unit is of the wrong type.


Stepping off soap box.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Ahh! I understand what you are saying Rip!!!! It makes alot more sense!!