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88 Lincoln TC Temp Gauge Question

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    88 Lincoln TC Temp Gauge Question

    My Lincoln's coolant temperature gauge has always read kind of funny, and I wanted to see if this was normal. When you first start out and the engine is cold, the temp gauge slowly rises to about the middle area of the gauge and then all of a sudden it falls pretty quickly back to just above the bottom of the normal range, and stays there. Some times it will move up just a bit when it is hot outside and the AC is on, but it never registers in the middle of the gauge like I think it should. Is the gauge broken, or is the car running too cold? I recently replaced the thermostat in the engine and flushed the coolant, and it made no difference in the temp gauge. I have an entirely new instrument cluster that I can install, because the gas gauge also works funny (it reads straight up way past the Full Mark 95 percent of the time) if it's worth doing so. What do you all think? Thanks!

    #2
    as long as it's always in the normal range, it sounds ok to me.
    Give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will promptly forget that he once did not know, and proceed to call anyone who asks, a n00b and flame them on the boards for being stupid.

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      #3
      When it falls suddenly that means the thermostat just opened. When it's hot out and the needle is up a little farther the hot air outside flowing across the radiator doen't do as good a job of removing heat from the coolant. As long at the needle stays within the normal range it's fine.
      Pebbles-1968 Ford F250
      Pile of Junk! An Electronics Project Site (To get wet by)<---Clicky! NEW STUFF!!!!

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        #4
        i think your thermostat is sticking full open when it warms up then it closes when the engine cools down. replace it and it should stay steady. also, stock temp guages are notoriously innaccurate so if you are that concerned get a good aftermarket one. when you replace the thermostat get at least a 180 to keep the fuel injection happy, a 195 is better if the cooling system has no leaks and the radiator and fan can maintain a temperature under 230 in severe conditions ie. climbing a hill in 100+ heat with the air conditioning on.
        '88 Colony Park, white with wood grain contact paper, K code axle, hose pliers on heater hoses, factory duals, big plans in the future...

        '83 Toyota 4x4, 31x10.50 15, could use a new carb, custom humidifying holes in the roof, mud based paint...

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          #5
          The temperature guages in these things are wonky at best. As long as its in the normal range, don't worry about it. As GL mentioned, the swing you're seeing is the thermostat opening and closing.
          86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
          5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

          91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

          1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

          Originally posted by phayzer5
          I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

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