temp readings
 

I have an 85 3.2 Carerra and I'm a little paranoid about the temp reading on my original VDO gauge. Over the past three months it has been sitting at about 8 o'clock on the gauge.
. While driving today in 80 degree ambient temp the needle was flirting with 9 o'clock or maybe a little hotter. I kinda suspect my oil thermostat as I once had a 2.7 do the same thing. I have no idea of what 9 o'clock translates into temp wise.

Thanks

Larry:confused:

Larry, 9 o'clock on a Carrera translates to ~225deg.F, perfectly normal in hot weather, especially in traffic. Of course we like them cooler, but if you have a stock set-up I'd say it's working. MAke sure that front cooler fan is coming on at correct temp, that's crucial in SoCal summer traffic. :cool:

'85s have no front fan. The fan is '87+

I just replaced the oil lines on this car and I noticed it had no front fan. When Denis suggested checking the front fan I said to myself, OH @#$%, NOW THE DAMN FRONT FAN IS MISSING. Took two nitro pills and drank 1/2 bottle of Wild Turkey. Then read Chuck's post! All is well @ Lar's house

yeah socal traffic, tell me about it. yesterday on the way up the 405 to ucla my oil temp was a couple cm short of the third tick (10o'clock) position on the oil temp gauge. lame.

Look over to the FAR left of the oil temp gauge under the lip....there ARE numbers there....you most likely have to lean forward and look around the steering wheel but they ARE there.....

Hi,

Yes, the numbers ARE there. They are easier to see with a flashlight too.

regards,

I just posted on this topic yesterday my self. My temp falls just short of the 3rd white line too when it is 95+ degrees and I am in stop and go traffic. Today it was about 93 degrees outside when I came home. I did not use my A/C and the temp guage stayed just below the 9 "o" clock position. I am confident that is just about where it should be.

So, I think our Carrera 3.2's are running within the acceptable and expected temperature range when one factors in ambiant temps and driving conditions.

Its all good.

Mike

The little numbers are:

Top of bottom band= 60deg.C (140F)

1st white mark (8 o'clock)= 90deg.C (194F)

2nd white mark (10 o'clock)= 120deg.C (250F)

beginning of red=150deg.C (300F)

Soooo....., 9 o'clock = ~225deg.F :cool:

Cool. Those numbers are there on the far edge.
I've had the car since late last fall so I've not driven it in over 75 degree weather. It usually runs between 140-190. Is this a good range for the temperature? What is considered optimum operating temp? What is minimum for "stomping on it"?

i was working on some wiring stuff and using my multimeter. i finally noticed that my meter comes with a thermocoupler function, that is spec'd out to be accurate +/- 3 degrees. i ran my car hot, and the guage was touching 240. i went and touched the thermocoupler to the hot supply line at the external tstat. i got a reading of 180. the cool line was 170. in front of the tstat was barely getting warm because the system isnt hot enough to move the oil forward to the cooler. lets just say i have a perfectly external tstat coming up for sale soon. damn! i gotta research changing or testing my sender and guage. damn squared!

Cliff,

To compare your gauge readings to your meter w/ thermocouple, meaningfully ... you need to put the thermocouple on the case right next to the sender.