Engine Operating Temperature?

[Twistiva]

So, we all know that Festys typically hardly EVER move the temperature needle above the "C". Well....a 93L 5-spd I just bought last week gets the needle up to about 35-40% of the way from/above the "C" to "H" in the following conditions:

drove it tonight for about 70 miles, all on highway, steady 65 mph, after sunset, outside air temp ~ 80F, radiator fluid level good, overflow bottle just a little less than halfway from "Low" to "Full", verified there's no cardboard, etc in the radiator to make run warmer.

Anybody else's Festivas run this warm?

Could be just a gauge problem but I'm also having Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor problems and I wonder if they might be related?

ECT sensor thread: http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ut-Won-t-Start

[SiliconSoul]

You really need to confirm what your real temperature is. I don't want to waste any more of your money, but a 20 dollar temp gun can be handy for figuring that out as well as other problems that may come up in the future. Maybe someone has put in a warmer thermostat? If the cooling system hasn't been property maintained maybe there is buildup causing a flow restriction? I believe you said the fan was coming on.

[bravekozak]

I would just use a thermometer and stick it in the hot coolant after carefully releasing the rad cap pressure. More accurate.

[crazyrog17]

Mine runs at 25-30% of the gauge normally but the fan kicks in at 45% in traffic or a drive through

[Pu241]

So, we all know that Festys typically hardly EVER move the temperature needle above the "C". Well....a 93L 5-spd I just bought last week gets the needle up to about 35-40% of the way from/above the "C" to "H" in the following conditions:

drove it tonight for about 70 miles, all on highway, steady 65 mph, after sunset, outside air temp ~ 80F, radiator fluid level good, overflow bottle just a little less than halfway from "Low" to "Full", verified there's no cardboard, etc in the radiator to make run warmer.

Anybody else's Festivas run this warm?

Could be just a gauge problem but I'm also having Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor problems and I wonder if they might be related?

I broke the connector from the harness to the gauge sensor, due to corrosion, and ended up soldering the wire directly to the sensor.
The output from the sensor is now higher, somewhere around 60% between C and H, and I can tell when driving up a major incline or when coasting down a major incline.
Or if my coolant is running a little on the low side, only happened once, due to pin hole leak in the head by pass hose.
But I was able to notice the increase in temp on the gauge.
I also run a grill block and I do see an increase in gauge temp to about 75-80%, C to H in the summer.
So I would say your fine.

That said, I would still agree with SiliconSoul "confirm what your real temperature is".

[Twistiva]

You really need to confirm what your real temperature is. I don't want to waste any more of your money, but a 20 dollar temp gun can be handy for figuring that out as well as other problems that may come up in the future. Maybe someone has put in a warmer thermostat? If the cooling system hasn't been property maintained maybe there is buildup causing a flow restriction? I believe you said the fan was coming on.

Temp gun: OK, I'll look into it. I've got a hunch the temps are OK but wouldn't hurt to verify that.
Fan: Yes, the fan was coming on but that was sitting in my driveway with the front of the car only 2 or 3 feet from the garage door with zero wind. I wish I had more info about how hot the gauge got when it died on me but I was inside washing up.

I would just use a thermometer and stick it in the hot coolant after carefully releasing the rad cap pressure. More accurate.

What kind of thermometer? An old finished "I've got a fever" thermometer? Do they make longer ones for cars?

Mine runs at 25-30% of the gauge normally but the fan kicks in at 45% in traffic or a drive through

Thanks, crazyrog.

[Twistiva]

Pu241 - Yeah, I agree. Knowledge is power, right?

[Spike]

Mine run at about 40% after they warm up (fan at about 45ish, too). Both have new dual-stage thermostats.

[TorqueEffect]

I run between 35%-40% temp, fan kicks on around 50%.

Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

[Twistiva]

OK, guys, thanks for chiming in. Maybe my temp gauge is not so out of whack after all. I'll check the temps in the radiator and let you know.