93-97 Coolant Temperature Gauge Modification

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I went about 2 miles each way. The road is flat. First half needle not above 1/4 second half it climbed to almost 3/4 still nowhere near red but much higher than I am used to seeing.

I turned the ac off and the gauge moved down immediately to just above 1/2.

This seems very odd to me as I was totally unaware of any cooling issues. I'll report the findings tomorrow after I go see Vern and his computer.
 
94 fwiw your behaviour is not that far off my 93. Just for giggles, try turning the od off and see if it makes a noticeable difference. it does for mine.
 
this may help your peace of mind. these are RT's test photos of my modded 93 gauge. The gauge looks hotter than it is!
204.webp
205.webp
206.webp
 
Thanks. So based on this into the red is when it is dangerously heating up? My truck is running fine, no physical indication of overheating, fwiw.

I appreciate you taking the time to post this.
 
first off, I think the 93-94 gauges may read higher than the 95-97 which is a different p/n. There is no visible difference to explain it.

second, i think the 93-94s may run slightly hotter. don't know why. everything on my truck seems fine but i see way more temp fluctuation than later model trucks. the bigger heavier tranny running slightly hotter is one possibility. turning the od off as suggested will increase rpm and hence make the fan run faster but i also wonder if the older tranny is lugging, even with 33s. Don't know.

touching the red would make me nervous even though it is only 213. I have not done that yet even towing a 4500 lb boat over a mountain pass. But, I can get darn close and I wouldn't dream of climbing a long steady gentle hill with the AC and the OD on.
 
Here b the update. It is 80 now gauge never went past slightly above 1/2 I let it sit after about a mile drive and it actually came down (I assume when the T-stat opened) I then drove through a car wash it remained at 1/4 the entire 5 minutes as well as the ten while I dried what the giant blower did not dry.

Due to these results I did not go to the shop. I am going this week to get my ARB (finally!) so I'll let him diagnose it then. I think I'll call Dan & get the fan some guys are running as a precaution.

Gracias!
 
My Blackberry took an update that made it necessary to update the desktop software te be able to get access to the media card so it took me a while to figure that out and get the pictures into my computer. This first one is the hottest it got this morning and the second while I was sitting in the car wash.
IMG00030.webp
IMG00037.webp
 
Looks perfectly fine to me.

Why is your truck idling so high sitting in the carwash?
 
I think I was moving forward from the clean to the blower at that point. It idles at 800 or so when the ac is on, 650 or so without.

I ordered the aux fan Romer did the write up about from Dan this morning. Just to be sure.
 
You should get a new blue-hub fan clutch and tune it before you mess with the aux electric fan. You'll get MUCH more bang-for-the-buck with a properly running fan clutch.

-B-
 
I called the shop that did the HG & cooling system & verified the fan clutch was also done in May. I also wanted the aux fan for the AC which has difficulty keeping the truck cold in stop & go traffic when it is over 100.

Thanks
 
I used Darwood's mod on my 93 and my needle always sits about one needle width above center on the highway or around town but sometimes will dip to dead center. I replaced my blown HG, radiator, water pump, added blue fan clutch, new rad/ heater hoses and assume at this point its not going to go any lower and I don't have overheating issues. It must be a 93-94 thing but I would like to know my actual water temp. in relationship to the gauge, I have to get to that someday. The mod was a big help the day the HG blew it did a nice slow climb to the red and fortunately I reach my destination before it hit red and got it towed home.

George
 
semlin said:
i think the 93-94s may run slightly hotter. don't know why.
Click to expand...

semlin said:
turning the od off as suggested will increase rpm and hence make the fan run faster but i also wonder if the older tranny is lugging, even with 33s. Don't know.
Click to expand...

you might have answered your own question. The gearing of the trannys are different aren't they?
 
94landcruiser said:
I called the shop that did the HG & cooling system & verified the fan clutch was also done in May. I also wanted the aux fan for the AC which has difficulty keeping the truck cold in stop & go traffic when it is over 100.

Thanks
Click to expand...

The blue hub fan clutches run best after they have been "tuned" as described in several threads by Landtank and ToolsRUs. You live in AZ and other hot climates so you will benefit greatly by reading the posts and following the directions. A locked-up blue hub fan will move a LOT of air; much more air than an electric pusher can even dream of. Probably more air than dual electric pushers and a stock 'untuned' clutch.

-B-
 
landtank said:
I have a pdf file also if you would like it. Just send me your e-mail address.
Click to expand...

Landtank, would you like me to host that pdf file for you?
 
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