The temperature gauge has not worked since I got the car a year and a half ago. I drove the car over a thousand miles last year with no overheating I could discern. I refilled the cooling system after replacing the sending unit. I fired it up, turned the heater on and kept filling through the expansion tank. The gauge started moving and stopped around 210 degrees. I let it run about a half hour to make sure the thermostat was open (160 degree high flow which I installed). I put the new 15lb cap on and rode it around for a while. The temp needle never moved off of the 210 degree mark. Car ran well. I'm aware that replacement sending units can be off by quite a bit. So, before I concern myself with the possiblity that the passages in the block and or radiator are gunked up, is there a practical way to test the sending unit for accuracy? Would putting a thermometer in the expansion tank be a true measure? Thanks as always for the assistance.
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Re: Temperature Gauge Accuracy
A meat thermometer dipping into the expansion tank will give you a pretty good idea. Try a couple or three of them and cross check the readings for accuracy.
An IR thermometer pointed directly at the thermostat housing should give a quite accurate reading.
Duke -
Re: Temperature Gauge Accuracy
I bought a aftermarket temp gauge at Pep Boys and installed it where the sending unit screws in, drove around for about 30 minutes or so, got out lifted the hood and checked the reading against what my original unit was recording after the same amount of time. You have to do it all on the same day so the outside temp and humidity is similar.Mine was right on, so I reinstalled the original unit. Also make sure you don't use teflon tape on the sending unit threads or you will get a funny reading.You can, as Duke advises, drive over to a mechanic who has one of those Hand held IF units. They will "shoot" the temp off your thermostat housing.(very acurate)Comment
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Re: Temperature Gauge Accuracy
Thanks guys. The sender didn't leak when installed without any teflon tape or sealant so I left it in that way. I'll have to abscond with my wifes meat themometer and check it. I'll also ask my mechanic about the IR sensor.Comment
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Re: Temperature Gauge Accuracy
I have replaced the sending units on a couple of older Vettes with one from Autozone. They don't say "Delco" on them, but they have both been very accurate when checked against an IR temp meter. Other than the lack of the "Delco", appearance is virtually identical. Cost is about $6. Might be worth a try if you determine that the sender is way off.Comment
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