Since installing the gauges in the head unit door (see photo below), I've been puzzled by the water temperature readings, which have hovered around 120 F in normal operation. This seems way too low to me (the thermostat opens at a much higher temp, and the fans turn on at an even higher temp, and my fans have been coming on occassionaly). Reedz hooked up his oil temperature gauge today and is getting readings around 200 F. Shouldn't the water temp be much closer to that of the oil temp?



The sensor for water temperature is mounted in the upper radiator hose, about 6 inches back from the radiator connection. Could it be that this placement is reading the cooled water temp after it exits the radiator? Or might I have a faulty sensor or gauge?

Any advice is appreciated.

BTW, pay no attention to the readings in the photo -- it was taken before any of the sensors were hooked up.

 

Rick, I think that in order to get an accurate temperature reading. the sensor needs to be reading the water temperature in the block. This will give you the real water temperautre of the engine.

The cooling system has several different subsystems: the block, which is a closed loop, via the thermostat; in conjunction with that is the heater, which also has a valve to control the flow through the heater core; the last system is the radiator, which is external to the engine.

You will get varying readings, depending on what subsystem you are monitoring and where the sensor is mounted.

I hope that this helps,
Bob

 

Thanks, Bob. I thought it might be something like that.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rick Hesel
[B]Since installing the gauges in the head unit door (see photo below), I've been puzzled by the water temperature readings, which have hovered around 120 F in normal operation.

 

Rick, those gauges really look nice; good job.

 

Chris,

James just got the sensor installed last night, so he hasn't had much experience with the readings under different driving conditions. I think he'll post something tonight after he's driven the car a bit more. I'll get my oil temp and pressure sensors installed over the weekend, so I'll have some data to add to the mix soon.

You have a PM.

 

Rick as you know I have almost the same setup. The water temp as measured at the top radiator hose stays at ambient until the oil (block) temp reaches about 90 degrees . At that point the thermostat opens and the water temp quickly catches up with or stays slighly behind the oil temp depending on the ambient conditions. Point of info for all - three bars is reached at 110 degrees oil or block temp. After 4 -5 miles of driving oil temp reaches about 190 degrees. If the weather is warm and you have pushed the car the oil temp can go as far up as 205 degrees. Water temp as measured at the top radiator hose peaks at 180 -190 degrees.

I wonder if you have a sensor problem or stuck thermostat?

 

First a couple of photos:




A few initial impressions about the readings. The normal operating oil temp of my car finally arrives at 220 degrees after travelling about 6 miles. This take longer than I expected and I'm sure that this time is much shorter during the summer. I found the oil pressure readings very interesting. Pressure is high at start-up and before the car warms-up. Makes since since the oil is very thick at this point. Readings range in the low to mid 90s. The pressure also remains high at idle while the engine is cold, low 40s. After the oil temp has reached about 180 degrees the oil pressures normalize to 85 psi during acceleration under 6000 rpm and 30 psi at idle. I have noticed what many (including myself) have preached all along; this car not not nearly warm yet when the third bar is displayed on the digital water temp gauge! I have always been able to feel the difference in engine response after about 10 miles of driving, now I am seeing definitive proof of this in these rudimentary gauges. I will report back after more miles. Oh yea, ambient temp here in NY has been an amazing average of 60 degrees during the day!

Regards,
James

 

Rick,

As you know I have done a similar install, but I did not install oil temp, and my water temp sensor is in the block. I normally run 180 to 200 degrees. It is interesting that the stock gauges goes up to 3 blocks, and just stays there, while the Nordskog gauge continue to change. The stock gauge doesn't really tell you much.

James, I have noted very similar reading with the oil pressure gauge.

Greg

 

gdw,

Where and how did you mount the water temp sensor on the block?