low temperature reading

[lesgreaves]

After 4 years of 'normal temperatures' showing on the engine temp gauge of my '97 Griffith, I now rarely get it to register above 65deg. Everything else is working fine and the fans still come on automatically from time to time. The 'Bible' suggests a change of sensor - has anyone got any first-hand experience of the 'low' temp problem and its solution ?

[David Beer]

Where is everybody who has suffered this ? If you are a serp you can simply swap to the spare sender,180 ohm resistor or adjustable to calibrate.

[FlipFlopGriff]

David Beer said:

Where is everybody who has suffered this ? If you are a serp you can simply swap to the spare sender,180 ohm resistor or adjustable to calibrate.

Another simple kit David?
FFG

[Uncle Fester]

FlipFlopGriff said:

David Beer said:

Where is everybody who has suffered this ? If you are a serp you can simply swap to the spare sender,180 ohm resistor or adjustable to calibrate.

Another simple kit David?
FFG

Neat and simple. I have one of Davids little widgits on mine. Plug in each end and twiddle the knob to ajust.

The only bit that I still puzzle over is the setting up.

Now ajustment is just twiddle the knob until the gauge reading matches a known temperature.

Mine is set with an optical thermometer pointed at the bottom rad hose, or to be precise the two-stage fan kit thermostats that are strapped onto it. My theory was keep otter switch and gauge sender the same.

The normal reading is about 70. The highest I have ever seen was 90. That was during the Rockingham record breaking on Sunday. Its a Griff 500 Serp engine. I would expect it to run hotter, especially as its got air-con and that shields the rad. The engine showed no signs of distress, but even with the bonnet open the fans ran on for ages after the record breaking.

David says what matters is changing readings, not the absolute reading, but I still worry.

What does everyone think?

Where should the optical thermometer be pointed when ajusting the gauge. Bottom hose, actual sender or somewhere else?

What would be the expected readings for normal and too hot.

Fester

[dwgriffith]

Some (all?) optical thermometer's will give differing temperature readings for different materials having the same standardized black body temperature. Iron is usually about neutral but shiny aluminium can over read big time. Check the instruments handbook to see if this applies before interpreting any results obtained.

[spend]

I cant see any logic that relates calibrating temp gauge to a temp after the coolant has been thru the radiator, but as long as you are happy your gauge reads what you want...

Dave

[David Beer]

Point it at the sender, or if you are still worried i will send my meter with a thermal probe. Mine never goes over 90 so i think yours is just fine.