Temperature Gauge - How acurate? When to be concerned? Car got hot, I'm paranoid.

[V8Notch]

2003 Marauder with a K&N intake and a tune from Marty. Car usually runs with the temp gauge just below middle. Recently moved to Denver and we had some 100F weather and I got stuck in some slow traffic. Gauge went to approx 3/4 to 7/8 of normal temp (not into the red). I turned off the AC and once the car got moving again it cooled back down. I had a look at the rad today and it was full of dust/fur/bugs. I pulled the fan and I hosed out the rad from the backside and I can't believe the amount of stuff that came out. Condenser and transmission cooler looked fine. Weather is cooler today so I didn't get to really test it out but I'm sure it's moving more air than it was.

How badly did it overheat if it didn't go into the red? I drove it today and it seemed fine but I'm being paranoid I did some damage or did I get lucky....

[Turbov6Bryan]

You got lucky since you caught it soon enough. Might try removing the site shield above the core support and PRESSURE WASHING between the condenser and radiator, be careful not to bend fins.

[BUCKWHEAT]

isn't the boiling point higher in Denver?

[V8Notch]

You got lucky since you caught it soon enough. Might try removing the site shield above the core support and PRESSURE WASHING between the condenser and radiator, be careful not to bend fins.

Yes, I had the heat shield off and the radiator loose with the condenser unbolted to get the best access I could. The hose with a sprayer attached did a great job. I’m afraid a pressure washer would bend the fins.

Was it just hot or did it overheat? Didn’t hit the red, stayed under the upper normal area.


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[justbob]

If it’s running right today then you are fine. The procedure you took to clean the rad is 100% the correct way to do so and should be considered a part of normal maintenance every few years dependent upon the conditions where you live so kudos to you. It amazes me the amount of laziness normally associated with cleaning out the debris and whining how it still runs hot..

Neighbors by me have cottonwood trees so I’ll have literally a one inch thick blanket between the rad and condenser every five years or so..

Because of this my car did exactly what yours did (maybe a tad hotter yet) when it was probably four years old and survived just fine.


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[GreekGod]

You NEED a ScanGauge! >>>

=
https://www.scangauge.com/

[Marauderjack]

isn't the boiling point higher in Denver?

NO.....BP is LOWER above sea level under atmospheric conditions but the system is pressurized so it doesn't really know it's in Denver!!;)

[decipha]

yea under pressure the boiling point raises (i.e. pressure cooker) and with glycol coolant the boiling point is raised yet again.

In my experiences all the way in the red is about 240 degrees which is fine. You don't have issues until you get up over 250+ degrees.

I have overheat protection in my tune. If it gets up over 240 degrees the engine shuts off. Last year my radiator fan went out. If it wasn't for that I probably would have lost my engine.

[V8Notch]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I've put enough miles on it I think I'm ok. Had me worried. Will definitely keep and eye on the amount of build up on radiator from now on.