Hi everyone and happy holidays! I just have a question about my temperature of my engine. It seems to run really cold (even in the summer it was on the low end). But I replaced my thermostat to help that situation because it think it was faulty. However, that didn't really help to much but it did make my temp gauge move up to normal a little more. After driving if for quite a while it just doesn't make it up to even normal temp. Not sure if flushing all the coolant would help or mabey blocking off some of the radiator with cardboard would help. I am not really sure what to do next and was wondering if there are any good ideas you guys had for me to try. Thanks and I hope that description made sence.

1993 - 3.9l - 4x4 - 5 speed

 

My '96 dakota v6 is the same way. Never gets to the middle of the gauge. I tried replacing the coolant temp sensor, we'll see what happens, as i haven't tried the truck out yet.

 

Yeah, let me know. I am open to anything, I'm not quite sure what could help at this point. Thanks!

 

What temp t stat are you running? Should be a 195. I have a 180, and I need to put in a 195 because of the symptoms you are experiencing.

 

The new thermostat i just put in is a 195

 

replaced the temp sender in my 93 used to show about 1/4 gauge at the most but now it shows 1/2 gauge with no other changes; are you having any problems or just dont like where the gauge reads?

 

Well I'm not quite sure. I would say its pretty weird to have your temp gauge that low after you have driven it for long periods of time. I suppose I could replace this temp sender and see if it helps. I'm not really sure about where that is or how hard it is to get to though. Any tips or advice on installing a new sender. Thanks for all your input, its very appreciated.

 

The older cars all ran like "1/3 gauge" for normal, if you got to 1/2 gauge you were watching it expecting it to go higher knowing there was an issue.
my 83 Dodge 3/4 ton only ever went up that far, in fact my cousin who owns it now has asked me about it more than once; my 78 plymouth Fury also used to only go up that far like my 93 Dakota just by virtue of replacing the temp sending unit it now reads higher.... some time in the late 90s I think it was when carmakers all started almost universally that gauges "had to" read down the middle

that said my MIL has a POS Ford Contour that I basically rebuilt for her a couple years ago; (nother story; more $$ in engine brake and suspension parts than car was worth) but on that one I had other reason to run it down the road with my Snapon Brick (scanner) attached and I thought Oh $#!t as the gauge started climbing a bit; it only took like 8* of temp climb for that car to go from 1/2 gauge to 3/4 gauge.... I can read temp directly as being reported thru the computer with the scanner.

every car reads a lil different, you gotta get used to what is "normal" for yours and worry when it deviates from that point...
just changing the temp sender does nothing for how hot the engine runs but can change how the gauge reads; they vary in calibration.

 

If you've replaced the t-stat with the 195°, the problem, if any, is in the sending unit. I too believe the older vehicles ran a little lower on the gauge. Not saying they run cooler, just lower on the gauge.

Being a vehicle without an OBD plug, you'll have to find a means of putting a thermometer on/in the engine coolant to find its actual running temperature.

Good luck!

 

a 93 wont be OBD II but even its OBD I setup will have a plug for a scanner which will tell you engine temp....

or you could use a handheld infra red and see what you are really running.... those are getting pretty cheap to buy.... good tool to read different points of a radiator to see if temp varies top to bottom/check for clogs anyway among other uses....