Temp gauge

[paparauder]

Hello there. I noticed that my temp gauge will briefly go into hot during warm up. It will stay there for a moment and then center and remain in center/ normal operation. Is this normal on these engines or do I need to look into air pockets/ bleeding the system or thermostat issues? How are the gauges to operate correctly? Like I said no other issues and gauge behaves normal other than during the thermostat opening. All info appreciated

[fastblackmerc]

Hello there. I noticed that my temp gauge will briefly go into hot during warm up. It will stay there for a moment and then center and remain in center/ normal operation. Is this normal on these engines or do I need to look into air pockets/ bleeding the system or thermostat issues? How are the gauges to operate correctly? Like I said no other issues and gauge behaves normal other than during the thermostat opening. All info appreciated

Burp the system.

If burping doesn't work you may need to change the thermostat. The correct thermostat is Marauder-specific.

Needle on temp gauge should be right at or slightly above the 20MPH hash mark.

[Ambitious1]

Burp the system.

If burping doesn't work you may need to change the thermostat. The correct thermostat is Marauder-specific.

Needle on temp gauge should be right at or slightly above the 20MPH hash mark.

+1 on this. ^

[sailsmen]

Into Hot is melting your engine.
The gauge starts to move ~235*.

[Svashtar]

Into Hot is melting your engine.

The gauge starts to move ~235*.


I think that's too high. That's hotter than my engine has ever run by 20 degrees at least.

According to ScanGauge II Fwt information, my temp gauge starts to lift off the peg at exactly 154 degrees. Normal water operating temp used to be 182-184, but now runs several degrees cooler in the mid 170's with a just installed 170 thermostat.


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[MunsterBro95]

My temp gauge doesn't work so I use the one on my SCT and my car stays between 188 and 198

[paparauder]

Ok. Thanks. So to recap, the gauge is never supposed to go higher than normal operating temperature? Meaning the gauge goes up half, thermostat opens, gauge stays about in the middle?

[Svashtar]

Ok. Thanks. So to recap, the gauge is never supposed to go higher than normal operating temperature? Meaning the gauge goes up half, thermostat opens, gauge stays about in the middle?


Yes, that's it. In 13 years I've only had mine go higher than the 20 mph mark twice: once when I drained the coolant and didn't burp it correctly, and once when the idiot dealer parked it on the side of the dealership idling for 35 minutes without telling me.

I have UD pullies and had the stock tune on the car so his service guy wouldn't overwrite the custom tune, because they don't listen. With the stock WP it turned at low revs and after a half hour got really hot. I took the RPM up to around 2200 and held it there, and it cooled right down. Why I hate going anywhere near the dealer...


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[ByronRACE]

Any air will do this. If you ever unscrew the little cap off the crossover tube and find air in there, you have a problem. It should be full of coolant at all times. Even 1/2 cup of air in there will create goofy temp gauge readings, weird fan behavior, and unusual thermostat behavior. They don't tolerate air in the system, and are very good at capturing it at that high point when leaks occur. I've had water pump leaks, a bad o-ring in that little high point fitting, and a leaking hose all produce the same thing...trapped air and weird thermostat/gauge/fan behavior. If it keeps coming back after you burp it, you have a leak.

[paparauder]

Hey thanks very much for all your input. That is what I suspected but hard to know without a reference. Will update findings.

[sailsmen]

I think that's too high. That's hotter than my engine has ever run by 20 degrees at least.

According to ScanGauge II Fwt information, my temp gauge starts to lift off the peg at exactly 154 degrees. Normal water operating temp used to be 182-184, but now runs several degrees cooler in the mid 170's with a just installed 170 thermostat.


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To clairify the guage starts to move above the "normal" mark at ~235*.

[Svashtar]

Got it; that makes sense, thanks. That sounds about right. I freaked when gauge was pointing up at about a 45 degree angle when the dealer left it idling, but after cooling it down I don't think it did any damage.

Someone told me if the engine gets super hot for too long it will shut itself down?


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[sailsmen]

The engine should go into overheat mode, it will short shift and then do other things.
Not sure what those other things are.

[paparauder]

I checked and wait...sure enough, low coolant. I checked and topped it up when the engine was cold, after sitting overnight. Did this on a second day and topped up again. I will recheck again and possibly do a pressure test since I coudn'd see any marks or drips.