I installed a new temperature sending unit in my '67 Riviera yesterday. It seems to be working fine. I am curious though, as to what people usually see as a normal dash gage reading with the 430 engine and 180F thermostat. I haven't tested the actual running temp of the engine yet though, just going by the gage and wondering if my reading is in the normal average. Thanks, Dan
I may be way off base on this, but... ...I think factory gauges are designed to read in the middle during normal operation (amp, temp). This will tell you if you are over/under normal conditions. Does your car read in the middle of the factory gauge?
Dan- a few questions: Is this a stock electrical gauge or an aftermarket one? (mechnanical ones are so much better than electrical) At what condition are you looking for a temp (idle, around town, highway)? If you have the stock "sweep" gauge with no numbers, do you want to know just whereabouts on the gauge the needle would normally be? the temp should be at 180* when the engine is warm. Driving around town, depending on your altitude, the ambient air temp, and humidity, you should see the t-stat temp or just a little higher. On the highway, expect temps from 200-220* or more, again depending on your altitude, the ambient temp, and humidity, plus it will go higher if you have a/c and use it, or have a heavy load on the engine, like you're towing something. It's not uncommon at all to see a max temp at least 100* higher than outside air temp. In a system with a 15 psi radiator cap, your boil over temp should be 247* I have never had one, but logically, "normal" temp should be indicated by the needle being about in the middle of the sweep in a stock gauge. Electrical gauges are inaccurate though, it's not a great indication of your exact temp.
Thanks for the replies Chris and Marco. Basically, before I had some engine work done a few months ago the temp gage was always at about 1/4 of way up from cold. After the engine was put back in, the temp gage stayed at cold most of the time, and sometimes fluttered a bit and got to 1/4...but usually didn't move. I've been running it like that for about a month. After installing the new sending unit yesterday, I took it out for a spin and it stayed at the halfway mark after the engine warmed up. This is why I wanted to hear from others with mechanical gages - since I had never seen it above 1/4 with the old sending unit. It's a stock mechanical gage without numbers and as far as I know, it's running a 180F thermostat. Sounds like its right where it should be then...halfway mark on the gage. Thanks, Dan
