Coolant gauge?

OMGitsaSTANG88 said:

I was curious if any one could tell me on my coolant gauge all fox body's start at 130 and end up at 270. Does anyone know wat each tick mark represents I looked in the chiltons book and online and could not find anything, even the manual just say in between normal is safe. I just would like to know so that I know what temperture my car is running thanks.

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What temperature the dash gauge reads is going to be slightly different on every car; it's not really meant to be a 100% accurate gauge. If you really want to rely on the dash for your temps., what I would do is install a temporary aftermarket gauge(one that is known to be accurate with the probe/sensor installed in the dash gauge location), and go for a cruise taking notes on what temps. you see under all the varying conditions. Then, I would hook up the dash gauge again, go for an identical drive, and compare readings. That would probably be the most accurate way to interpret your temps.

Yeah I have done that I was just curious if anyone knew, thanks though.

mhuggler said:

What temperature the dash gauge reads is going to be slightly different on every car; it's not really meant to be a 100% accurate gauge. If you really want to rely on the dash for your temps., what I would do is install a temporary aftermarket gauge(one that is known to be accurate with the probe/sensor installed in the dash gauge location), and go for a cruise taking notes on what temps. you see under all the varying conditions. Then, I would hook up the dash gauge again, go for an identical drive, and compare readings. That would probably be the most accurate way to interpret your temps.

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Does anyone else know what each tick mark represents? It starts at 130 and ends with 270 thanks.

OMGitsaSTANG88 said:

Does anyone else know what each tick mark represents? It starts at 130 and ends with 270 thanks.

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Each mark represents a temperature, its just too small of a gauge to put the numbers on.

Thanks for responding I know each Mark represents a temperture but I was just curious what it was.

Slopony86 said:

Each mark represents a temperature, its just too small of a gauge to put the numbers on.

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Well, when you divide it out, each subsequent tick mark after the 130 indicates a 28 degree increase.
Which means the middle tick mark should indicate around 214ish degrees.
Which sounds about right, since other gauges, like the one in my truck that has three numbers, 100-210-280 the 210 is smack dab in the middle

At the same time...the stock gauge is really just a "hot or not" indicator. I would take its numerical accuracy with a grain of salt. Hell, 90% of cars with temp gauges typically just have a "C" a normal operation zone, and an "H". Which is really all you need anyways...

I had the same question years ago and was told the same thing. The stock gauges are not that accurate and can vary. An after market electric gauge or a mechanical one will give you the exact reading of temperature. I never upgraded my gauge to a more accurate one. Someday I will. Do you have an electric fan? I was given this tip. Let your car idle and hold on to the upper hose that goes into the top of your radiator. When you feel it get hot, that is when the thermostat has open up to let the coolant flow. Which is when your car has reached operating temperature. Check where the needle is on your gauge. The gauge has normal written on it. On my car, operating temperature is between the the M and the A of normal. Which is lower than the half way point. A little past 7 a clock for reference. And that is where I set my electric fan temperature sensor knob to turn on. This is based on using a stock thermostat. You could turn the fan setting lower, but it would be kicking on more and just draining your battery especially if you have a stock alternator, and worse under drive pulleys, like I do. A nightmare stuck in traffic!!!! Hope this helps