Paul,
Engine seems at normal operating temps, not cooler, so I guess it must
be the gauge. stat is good according to the example you gave. time to
repair or replace.
Thanks, as always for your comments,
Dave
Paul Hunt wrote:
>Did the engine feel at normal temperature? Or significantly cooler? If
>normal then probably the gauge has failed, this is their normal mode of
>failure - to start reading low then not at all. If noticeably cooler then
>probably the thermostat has stuck open. You can confirm this by warming the
>engine up from cold feeling the top of the radiator all the time. With a
>good stat it will stay cool for some time even though you can feel the head
>and block warming up, then gets very hot all in a rush. With a stuck open
>stat the radiator will warm up gradually with the engine. Also a good gauge
>but a stuck open stat will probably read higher if stationary but running at
>a fast idle than driving down the road, in winter ambients anyway.
>
>The flat battery is almost certainly nothing to do with either gauge or
>stat. You won't do any real immediate harm running with either a stuck open
>stat or a failed temp gauge, but a stuck stat will probably need more choke
>which is not good for the engine, and a failed gauge will not reveal
>overheating is some other problem should develop ... like the stat suddenly
>closing and sticking closed!
>
>PaulH.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>
>>... What's the consensus of the group? Time to find
>>a new gauge, thermostat stuck,....??
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