Where does yours point?

[seadog]

Gradually getting used to my Stag, but am still somewhat paranoid about the overheating problems associated with the engine.

With the standard temperature gauge (and I know all cars will be a little bit different) where does the gauge needle sit on the scale normally on other members cars?

Mine will sit at about a third for the first few miles then creep up to the half-way mark, just on vertical and seems to stay there, possibly edging a gnats past the vertical occasionally then dropping back to vertical, but it is only a gnats, hardly noticeable unless, like me you never take your eyes off it! This was the case when out for a longish run two days ago both sitting at about 60mph on dual carriageway or through town driving with the ambient temperature about 23°C here in the sunny North East.

My car has the standard cooling system, but also has an electric fan, which is seems to cut in somewhere just above this normal running temperature/when the gauge needle is half-way up the scale.

As I said, I know all cars/gauges will be slightly different, but, from my limited knowledge of other old cars, that I had in the past, the needle used to always stay around the 'third' mark most of the time, it's only the modern cars that nowadays run at exactly half-way.

[mole42]

It sounds perfectly alright to me.

[DJT]

The temperature gauge isn't the most accurate in the world, especially now that it is 40-odd years old. It is supplied by the voltage stabiliser, which is also probably 40-odd years old and is of a bimetallic strip design, so can be somewhat dodgy.

Add to that the fact that there are many 'will-fit' temperature senders on the market that can give different readings depending on where/when they were made and there is no likelihood that you will know what is fitted.

Given the above, and the fact that your temperature gauge is reading 'normal' and seems to be steady, I think you can relax. Once you have got used to the way it behaves, then only worry if it does something unusual. Mine, for instance, stays below the vertical at all times. Whether that is in traffic or at 70 (-ish) on the motorway. If it crept up to vertical, or above, then I would suspect something was amiss, but until then........

[mjheathcote]

Replace with a mechanical capillary temperature gauge.
You can check the temperature accuracy with a thermometer with the bulb in a pot of hot water before fitting, then you know what is really going on!

[Gary Collins]

I have just read this thread, having found it wondering much the same about my temperature gauge. Unlike Seadog and his respondents, I find that my gauge rises to the centre quite quickly from cold but then, with steady driving, rises slowly to the 3/4 mark and gives every indication of continuing if I did. As a result, I only do shortish journeys and have never had the confidence to take it on anything longer. I also run the heater (even in the summer) in an effort to stabilise the needle! I have an electric fan fitted so think am relying on this to stop it getting too hot to drive. I am not technically minded but after having had an engine completely rebuild over the summer last year, I'd have thought that this would take care of running hot. I am not technically minded but if there is any simple advice, I'd be grateful. Maybe this is not so unusual and some kind soul might put my mind at rest ....

[steve.n]

Gary, I would advise to add rad flush, run the car for a few miles then flush the system back and forwards with the heater set to hot including removing the block drain plugs. Replace the stat then refill with 50% antifreeze/water. This will give you a known starting point with the cooling system. Above half way on the gauge would worry me.
Steve

[Gary Collins]

OK. I appreciate your prompt suggestion, Steve. I am embarrassed to say that this sounds like a job for a garage rather than me...
This sounds to me like you suspect there is something blocking the coolant path in the engine block? Or a fault with the thermostat?

[steve.n]

Gary, my suggestion is just to rule out the basics, minimum cost and although it might sound daunting it is a pretty basic job needing just a few basic tools. myself and all here can provide all the help and advice you need. Try not to get too anxious about things, Stags are very straightforward cars and not the unreliable nightmare some people make out. have you had the car long?

[Ritchie6]

Mine runs about 12 o'clock which is around 3/4 of the way along the black section. I've just come back from a 70 mile run on this warm summer's evening and it stayed pretty constant the whole drive,especially given we just been over some quite hilly terrain in the Dales. I do also have a Kenlowe fan fitted but have never used it. I did notice the other day that the front of the radiator behind the grill had quite an accumulation of dead insects so I got a long handled paint brush(the sort that you use to paint behind house radiators) and gave it a good brush off to remove most of them. Every little bit of draught helps.

Richard

[StagJonno]

Before you assume that you have a problem with your cooling system, I'd first check out the reading you're getting. It could be caused by a dodgy temp sensor, or it could be a failed Voltage Regulator (mounted to either the body of either the speedo or tacho behind the dash) or even a poor earth to the V Regulator.

If you get one of these type of infrared non-contact thermometers https://www.amazon.co.uk/Etekcity-La...hermometer+gun then you can check the accuracy of your gauge reading. The temp sensor is located by cylinder 8, at the rear of the left hand side bank of cylinders (looking from the driver's seat). Many other owners have used these infrared thermometers with good results, though best results are with dark coloured surfaces.

LD Part sell replacement sensors, which have been tested to give a vertical needle on a properly functioning gauge + Voltage Regulator. Replacement V Regs may be available from them too, but if not, try Robsport, Paddocks or Rimmers. Note - these V Regs give a pulsed battery voltage (on for a bit, then off, then on again etc) to give an average of 10V.

Jonno

[Gary Collins]

I've had it for 7 years and thoroughly enjoy using it every trip. It is used all year round but only at weekends and only slightly less frequently in the winter months. But I only do shortish journeys. It would just be nice to know if I could take it on something a little more adventurous. I have serviced the car once with the help of a friend who is knowledgeable about classics but he has moved further away and I am not inclined to tackle anything under the bonnet so tend to leave this to the garage....a pretty expensive business.

I did try Evans coolant before the rebuild but despite the hype, that was not as good as water and glycol at removing heat so changed back after the rebuild. The engine is clean and the radiator seems to be holding without loss and the expansion vessel is nearly half full of fluid. It does feel hot under there after a drive though!

[Gary Collins]

If only It were an accumulation of insects on the rad grille....I am rather envious of Richard's run today and indeed, his steady temp needle!

[djtaylor]

Where does mine point? In the cooler evenings and when moving, pretty much vertical but when sitting still or going very slowly yesterday afternoon, went into the red so... heater on full.
I've just fitted (but not plumbed/wired in a Revotec fan), even though my viscous coupling seems fine but given the comments about old voltage stabilisers and uncalibrated guages, I'm going to knock up an Arduino and digital display temperature monitor to hide somewhere for a while, so that I can either panic or calm myself based on the correlation with the actual gauge.

[steve.n]

Gary, carrying out your own work gives you a confidence boost in yourself and your car not to mention great satisfaction.
There will be plenty of members in your area willing to lend a hand I'm sure. I would help but I'm a bit far away but if there's any help I can give here let me know.
Steve

[Andy S]

Gary, I would advise to add rad flush, run the car for a few miles then flush the system back and forwards with the heater set to hot including removing the block drain plugs. Replace the stat then refill with 50% antifreeze/water. This will give you a known starting point with the cooling system. Above half way on the gauge would worry me.
Steve

This exactly what I had done. Temp gauge had always sat below vertical and only after recent service did the needle start to climb towards 2/3 mark.

Was very suspicious of swishing sound and brown colour of fresh coolant.

I took to a mechanic I know and trust and he confirmed system hadn’t been bled properly. Secondly, he confirmed that system had been drained, but not flushed. It was full of brown sludge suggesting it hadn’t been flushed for awhile.

My advice would be to do it yourself, or find a garage that knows how to do things properly.

Andy S