is 202 degrees an acceptable operating temp? (1 Viewer)

[mainemike]

So Peepers is in the middle of a cross-country roadtrip and notices the ScanGauge temps seem a tad high and posts a question... and gets instant replies from Cruiserheads everywhere. I tell him that temp is *normal*, but then start to doubt my own rigs condition reading others advice... especially when C-Dan weighs in. So as PM I'll end up discounting my original advice and doing a fan, maybe followed by a radiator. We know peepers will do a fan and probably a radiator (maybe on the road). Probably everyone who has a ScanGauge will be double-checking their temps and rethinking their rad/fan condition. Those who don't have a ScanGauge will become paranoid and wondering how hot they may be running.... All in the space of 2 hours.

This group is awesome and makes owning a Cruiser so much fun. I wonder how many Scan Gauges, fans and radiators will be purchased in the next few weeks just because Peepers is running a little hot on his way to Texas?

 

[landtank]

what's real nice about the scan gauge is that you already know that the engine is a little hot and the fan clutch should have resistance. So a quick push with your hand right after the engine is turned off will tell you the condition of the clutch. But let's face it, if it's the original it's probably over due.

 

[peepers]

okay lemme see if i can get it all...

i meant the fan was spinning away as the truck was idling. now, onto the fanclutch... does the fan clutch kick the fan on at highway speeds? i didnt think it did. this is why i think the radiator is on the way out. i will also check for resistance when the cruiser is not running.

thanks for the specifics c-dan. i think you will be getting a(nother) call in a few days.

i hope this makes it the rest of the trip and we dont need to have to spend time to fix it. i was already sidelined not 2 hours into my trip when i was in the middle lane and noticed the steering was suddenly unresponsive and there was a massive "dead spot" where turning the wheel in either direction yielded no result. i look over and say, hold on babe, something is wrong with the steering. i am barely able to get the truck slowed down and into the brakedown lane and when I do there is a deathwobble like no other. upon further inspection, the bolt that secures the panhard rod to the frame had fallen out.

anyway, i hope that panhard bolt was the first and last of my issues. (fingers crossed)

 

[peepers]

what's real nice about the scan gauge is that you already know that the engine is a little hot and the fan clutch should have resistance. So a quick push with your hand right after the engine is turned off will tell you the condition of the clutch. But let's face it, if it's the original it's probably over due.

yeah landtank... the fan clutch and radiator are getting replaced when i get to texas. too bad i can't be at your place to do it!

 

[alaskacruiser]

I'd consider landtank's (Rick's) fan clutch mod if you can do it. Dropped my temps from the 195-198 range down to 184-190 in the same conditions, other components remaining the same.

 

[peepers]

I'd consider landtank's (Rick's) fan clutch mod if you can do it. Dropped my temps from the 195-198 range down to 184-190 in the same conditions, other components remaining the same.

good idea... i know what kind of beer he likes too!

 

[cruiserdan]

An archaic and dangerous technique that serves no perpose.

"purpose"...........


I use it too so I musty be archaic and dangerous......

If memory serves, you are 4 months older than me so you must be really dangerous.....

 

[landtank]

"purpose"...........


I use it too so I musty be archaic and dangerous......

If memory serves, you are 4 months older than me so you must be really dangerous.....

yes but I look 43

 

[Romer]

yes but I look 43

No you don't

 

[Atticus]

No you don't

He meant 143.

 

[FirstToy]

before I replaced the fan clutch, about 5 people stuck their bare hand on the fan blades and stopped it... oh well.

I think your temps are within what a lot of people report. I think it's close to normal if not normal range. You are not anywhere close to damage or overheating

 

[e9999]

if temps weren't likely to go every so often above 212, we wouldn't need pressurized systems and all that good stuff...

 

[peepers]

thanks guys. sometimes i get too anal about the truck. i just unplugged the scan gauge II and drove 9 hours from nashville to new orleans. what was the temp? i have no idea. all i know is the ever so accurate factory gauge didnt budge and well, that'll have to do for today.

 

[FirstToy]

I like the scangauge even tho you are constantly looking at the temps.

If it ever does start to overheat, you will know far sooner than w/ the stock gauge... that's valuable.
Also if you consistently start staying above 210 (or whatever you're normally at) - it can tell you something is wrong- where normally you would have no idea.

I have a new fan clutch and it runs great, temps are around what you listed as well. I was eyeing that Ron Davis aluminum radiator a while back for the heck of it but priorities changed...

 

[Romer]

The stock gauge is why I added a temp gauge and a 2 pod a-piller mount. Then you don't have to keep looking at your scanner.

 

[e9999]

can you set up an alarm on the scangauge?
I can do that with my setup.

 

[peepers]

check out my avatar... see those big ole lightforce 240s? i removed those this morning before my 8 hour drive. i set the cruise control at 80 and drove from new orleans to austin and the temp never got above 195*. granted, its flat but it never even got into the 200s. i think they were restricting air flow.

this does not mean i wont change the rad and fanclutch. the truck did get way too hot on its way up to skyline drive in shanadoah natl park so its still getting replaced.

 

[cruiserdan]

I would not be surprised that removing the lamps made a difference. I had a similar experience.

I also recall a discussion about how airflow through the engine compartment of a LIFTED 80 would be different than one at stock height, with the possible result that the flow is disrupted in some manner.

 

[franku]

I reccomend you do that fan clutch mod!

I wouldn't buy a new one yet... The oem's are re-fillable also...

I have topped up my new Blue Fan Clutch - one tube brought it to where it should have been according to Landtanks' mod page and it made a big difference on it's own - when I rev the engine at idle - the temp at the thermostat drops now - it used to go up before topping up the oil on the new clutch!

Since my 93 doesn't have OBDII - I also bought one of these digital gauges with an ALARM that is settable.

It is VERY EASY to install... you install the sensor under a bolt - either on the head near the oem sensor - ie. the nut on the watet outlet of the head or do what I did because I already had a water temp gauge on the top radiator hose - I installed it under the thermostat bolt - so now I can monitor the water temp coming out of the radiator / going into the thermostat with the digital gauge.

I liked the fact that I could set an alarm - so if I wans't looking - it will let me know if something is wrong!

There is also an orange wire that can be hooked up to your low oil light on your dash - this makes the alarm go off for that also

They are made here in Australia... so I bought a heap and got a slightly lower price for my friends here in Australia who have been buying them and installing them.. They are only $149 AUD

You can get info on them from my website TM-2 Engine Watchdog With Settable ALARM at FULL WAVE MARINE

If anyone wants any - I can look into delivery costs to USA and see if I can offer free delivery to ih8mud users

The ones I have in stock are in degrees C - I can get them overnight in degree's F if you want that...

Here is some photo's of it in my cruiser..

 

[franku]

For everyone's info, I have come up with a deal with free delivery to USA - the lowest price around...

Details here https://forum.ih8mud.com/merchandis...emp-gauge-w-alarm-overcome-oem-dead-spot.html