Noticeable "temp" change with new sending unit

[yipcanjo]

My temp guage stopped working a few weeks back, but I was able to figure out that the sending unit was bad -- not the guage itself. Anyhow, I grabbed a new sending unit (Niehoff?), slapped it in there, and topped off the radiator. Everything seems just fine *EXCEPT* that my temps appear to be noticeably higher than they were with the old sending unit! Any thoughts? Perhaps the old unit was going bad and was mis-reporting? An issue with the new sending unit?

Things of note:
1) My radiator was flushed about two months ago, so it's doing pretty well
2) With the old temp sending unit I don't ever remember the temp going past 50% on the guage (the middle)
3) The new sending unit seems to hover around 70-75% temp when fully warmed up --- and even higher if I shut 'er off, hop out for 5 minutes, and get back in again!

Whatcha fellas think?

Yip

[Tad]

The climbing after shutoff is normal, all engines do that.
It's probably now sending properly (stock gauges are really just for entertainment value only).

If your really concerned, drop by a rad shop with it fully warmed up and have them zap with a heat detector gun/thingy, they'll usually do it for free and it's a lot more accurate than your gauge. Your local mechanic/garage may have one too.

[yipcanjo]

Thanks. I think you're probably right.... the guage is likely registering *correctly* now, but I like your suggestion on getting it officially temped at a radiator shop. I might just do that.

Anyone know (roughly) what the temp guage markings represent? In other words, the "redline/too-hot" area... does anyone know what approximate temp "too hot" is? Anyone know what 50% (or the middle) of the temp guage actually represents?

Thx.

Yip

[Bob Davis '80 Chero]

Who knows what the guage indicates, I just don't worry unless it goes way to the right. Mine, on warm days stays right of center some. I have a 185 degree theromstat so I figure that is correct. When I had my first one I put in a 160 degee thermostat and it stayed about centered on the guage.

[yipcanjo]

Thank you, sir. [img]smile.gif[/img]

(p.s. -- *very* nice Honcho!)

[osceola]

put a meat thermomemeter in the radiator see what it sez.

[mrk442]

so what would the "optimal" hot temp be on these wags i am in southern AZ so warm up is usually not a problem but i don't think i have ever got it above 180 "reading stock and aftermarket gauge"?

[Doug B.]

IMPROPER AVATAR ALERT!!!