Low water temp?

[Italchic]

My temp gauge always reads to the low side, just above 120F. I've changed coolant, hoses and burped the system. Is this something I should investigate further?

[JammerX19]

My temp gauge always reads to the low side, just above 120F. I've changed coolant, hoses and burped the system. Is this something I should investigate further?

Does your car have a thermostat?

[Italchic]

I assume that it does. Is that the part located between the upper and lower hoses on the passenger side, or the part on the top of the engine that passes between the cam pulleys and into the two top hoses? If its bad does it need to be replaced? I know for sure that the PO removed the heater due to a bad core.

[azruss]

location of t-stat depends on the age of the car. most have an external one. this is the one on the p.s. with 3 rubber hose outlets. even if it is frozen open, the car will eventually reach running temps if the outside temps are above 70 and you've been driving continuously for over a half hour.

[Italchic]

I got out my shop manmual and I have the external type in the housing, naturally the more expensive type around $60. I'm just wondering can I drive it like this or am I doing any harm. Do I have to replace it now or can it wait?

[81SPIDERMATT]

drove mine for a long time with a thermostat that was stuck open..... i know i will get crap for this but i think that my car liked running cooler.... now everything is as it should be and car reaches operating temp quicker than it used to.... still rruns great but it just seems too be a little peppier at cooler temps.....

[JConnerly]

I just expierienced this same situation. I end up replacing the two temp sensors on the top of the head and the problem is gone. Be careful removing the boots on top of the sensors. They become brittle with age and are difficult to replace if you shatter them.

[majicwrench]

The engine needs to be at operating temp,somewhere around 190 deg, or you are doing it no good. It NEEDS to be hot. And the sooner the better.
Keith

[rlux4]

Have you checked the actual temp at the head? An IR thermometer would tell you if your gauge is reading correctly.
Ron

[Italchic]

How would I go about doing this?

[rlux4]

An infared thermometer is pretty cheap, Harbor Freight carries them. You just point it and pull the trigger. Gives you an accurate temp reading instantly.
Ron

[Italchic]

I took rlux4's advice and checked the head with a laser thermometer which read closer to 195, so I guess the problem is with either the sensors or the gauge. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this, as the other gauges aren't very accurate either. I guess having gauges that are mostly just cosmetic is part of the "charm" (for lack of a better word) of the car. Anyway, at least I know the engine is opperating at the desired temp. Thanks for the advice.

[majicwrench]

Depending on where you are pointing thermometer, head will be hotter than coolant. Need to check hoses, tstat etc.
Methinks the temp gauge is one of the more accurate gauges on a spider when everything is correct.
Does your heater blast you out??

[Italchic]

Heater core was removed by the previous owner due to a leak, so I can't speak to that.

[rlux4]

That's good to hear. I kinda thought it would be thea case, hard to imagine our cars keeping a temp of 120. When I changed out the stat that my car came with I found the blocking plate had been drilled with several 1/4" holes, pretty much rendering it useless. It would maintain normal temp until stopped in traffic or going up a long hill.
Ron