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  #1  
Old 06-03-2018, 10:32 PM
VelociRanger VelociRanger is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2018
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Default Engine Temp

I've noticed that the engine temp gauge on my truck hardly ever sits right at the middle it's usually more on the cold side, unless I let it idle for forever. Tonight as I was driving home i took a picture of my gauges (there was nobody on the road and it was a long highway in the country) and I was going about 80mph, 5th gear at about 3k rpms (seems kinda high in the rpms but it's a 4 banger so idk) and I do a lot of highway driving so I'm usually at that speed and rpms for a significant amount of time. Is this usual or no? Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 06-04-2018, 03:44 AM
tomw0 tomw0 is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

IMO, right on the money. The gauges usually run a bit to the left of middle in my experience.
I observe the tach reading about 2100-2200 rpms when going about 60mph. I think my speedo is a bit optimistic, though the odo section seems right on.
tom
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  #3  
Old 06-04-2018, 09:40 AM
VelociRanger VelociRanger is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

Alright, cool. I was just hoping that I wasn't just freaking out about it not ever completely warming up. It's got the wrong antifreeze in it (not the motorcraft gold, it's the generic green) so I was hoping I wouldn't have to do a radiator flush considering I have no idea how, and supposedly the newer ones (mines a 2008) are really hard to flush due to no drain plug? Idk. Still on the list of things to do. Thanks Tom
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  #4  
Old 06-04-2018, 10:42 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

if you want to get fancy with it, you can get a wireless/bluetooth ELM adapter and download an OBDII app for your phone. $15 for the device and either free or cheap for the app on your phone. that way you can see exactly what temperature that your coolant is!

but anyway, mine always read just under the middle of the gauge as well
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  #5  
Old 06-04-2018, 10:45 AM
VelociRanger VelociRanger is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

That's pretty sweet, I've never heard of that before but definitely looking into that for sure. Would it also show other stuff such as a/f ratio, oil temp or anything like that or just what gauges I have on my cluster?
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  #6  
Old 06-04-2018, 11:12 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

yep i will let you see Fuel trim, Mass Air flow rate, even O2 voltages i think, Intake air temp, coolant temp, system voltage, rpm, other calculated stuff, and whatever else that the computer uses to run closed loop. but i don't think that rangers have an oil temp sensor, so you wouldn't see that.
it will let you view AND clear engine codes when they pop up.
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  #7  
Old 06-04-2018, 11:33 AM
VelociRanger VelociRanger is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

Badass
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  #8  
Old 06-04-2018, 11:57 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

lol! i use the Torque app for Andriod. if you have an iPhone, i think their favorite one is OBDFusion or something like that.
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  #9  
Old 06-06-2018, 03:42 AM
tomw0 tomw0 is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

I would suggest Forscan as an app. It can use OBD-II 'readers' that plug into the port, and runs on PC, Android and apple IOS(?). Cost free, I believe. It is more FoMoCo oriented and will do both 'buses', lo and hi speed.
tom
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  #10  
Old 06-06-2018, 06:04 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

ah yeah i forget about forskin lol
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  #11  
Old 06-09-2018, 09:06 AM
flyfish0348 flyfish0348 is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

Depends upon you thermostat. Mine (2004 Edge 4.0 4X4) has a 180 degree thermostat and it reads left of half way of the meter.
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  #12  
Old 06-10-2018, 03:49 PM
Undrstm8ed Undrstm8ed is offline
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Default Re: Engine Temp

The gauges are relatively static unless failure in anyone mode of operation..

When the Marauder came out. The autometer like oil press gauge in the lower center stack of the console wasn't static.. so when you came to a stop. The press would do as it should and the gauge would indicate what would seem very low oil press. Obviously under load and idle oil press is NOT the same.

So people were flipping out and bringing them in for basically unneeded warranty repair when nothing is/was wrong. So needless to say the next years gauges went [BACK] to static style gauges.

so unless its truly overheating or the sensor fails [dies] once it gets to operating temp, that left of center is as everyone else described.. - the Norm
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