why I still prefer gauges in my cars

[jlh3rd]

I noticed a few weeks back in my '08 silverado that the temp gauge was reading slightly below the normal setting since new. Suspected the thermostat, but put it off as maybe an age thing....wrong guess.
This coming Friday is the yearly trek to Raystown Lake (about a 2 hour haul). So I run down to the marina this past Tuesday (1.5 hrs) to get the boat. Gauge is actually sitting normally (210). On the way back home and going up a long grade, I glanced and it showed well over 210 but no warning lights. Then dropped slowly back down. Did this off and on.
Since I do regular maintenance , including scans, I have no doubt it is the thermostat...which is arriving today and is a simple job.
Point being.....without that mechanical gauge I would not have known there was an issue.....until probably halfway to the lake , (murphy's law) broken down and a ruined weekend with family.

 

[dingbat]

I noticed a few weeks back in my '08 silverado that the temp gauge was reading slightly below the normal setting since new. Suspected the thermostat, but put it off as maybe an age thing....wrong guess.
This coming Friday is the yearly trek to Raystown Lake (about a 2 hour haul). So I run down to the marina this past Tuesday (1.5 hrs) to get the boat. Gauge is actually sitting normally (210). On the way back home and going up a long grade, I glanced and it showed well over 210 but no warning lights. Then dropped slowly back down. Did this off and on.
Since I do regular maintenance , including scans, I have no doubt it is the thermostat...which is arriving today and is a simple job.
Point being.....without that mechanical gauge I would not have known there was an issue.....until probably halfway to the lake , (murphy's law) broken down and a ruined weekend with family.

What you noticed was norm operation of a cooling system.

Under high thermal load, the coolant boils in the cylinder head. If the surface of the combustion chamber is 400 degrees F and water boils at 212 degrees F, then in theory, 188 degrees F are left in the casting.

If the boiling point of the coolant can be raised to 250 degrees F, then the separation would only be 150 degrees F. This would be considered a more desirable cooling medium.

Pressurizing the cooling system raises the boiling point of the coolant. Pure water under 15 psi of pressure will not boil until 257 degrees F. With the introduction of anti-freeze, the boiling point is raised approximately 14 degrees F. A 50/50 anti-freeze/water mixture will not boil until approximately 271 degrees F

 

[jlh3rd]

it is not.....I have owned the truck since new....have hauled my boat with it since owning the boat from 2016/17 on....and have towed it to this lake from 2018 on....and back and forth from the marina in essex Md., since 2023.
The gauge gets to 210 and stays there.....always.......until now.

owned a 1977 Monte, purchased new. One year I noticed the temp gauge began to read lower than normal......and thought I heard more noise in the engine compartment.
Turned out the clutch fan had frozen and the gauge was helping to tell me something isn't right.

technical knowledge helps.....but common sense and experience is a big part of this triad.

 

[redneck joe]

i have a slow leak at the water pump, and when it starts acting up thats when i've lost enough to add more.

I drive the truck maybe 2k miles a year.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

i have a slow leak at the water pump, and when it starts acting up thats when i've lost enough to add more.

I drive the truck maybe 2k miles a year.

Loosen the radiator cap, leak should stop.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I love my old boat I have a 1990 master craft it is really a simple boat to trouble shoot. I frequent a master craft website. You see post on newer boats and they have crank sensor issues, fuel injection issues, computer issues. I will stick with my old dumb boat with gauges and points.

 

[jlh3rd]

yep,
same with cars 'cept that a good, fairly inexpensive, bi-directional scanner can be bought for them.
not for my Merc.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I am blessed when it comes to vehicles, I have an all expense paid for truck replaced every 4 years. My last 3 Silverados were never in the shop once except for routine maintenance and tires.

 

[redneck joe]

well every four years should not be having any issues, regardless.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I am blessed when it comes to vehicles, I have an all expense paid for truck replaced every 4 years. My last 3 Silverados were never in the shop once except for routine maintenance and tires.

because your work pays for them?

 

[jimmbo]

Where I live, Any Personal Use(that includes driving To the Office from Home, and From the Office to Home), of a Company Vehicle is Taxable. And if you don't keep very through and complete records of such use, the entire Mileage for the Year is Deemed Taxable. I think it is Great, cause there is far too many Company Vehicles that are never used for Company Business, but are driven by Wives and Kids of Business Owners, and are claimed as Business Expenses...

 

[matt167]

That analog gauge is just a digital readout. Many modern engines replaced the thermostat with a coolant control valve which is usually buried

 

[DeepCMark58A]

because your work pays for them?

Yeah my last name is on the paychecks.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Where I live, Any Personal Use(that includes driving To the Office from Home, and From the Office to Home), of a Company Vehicle is Taxable. And if you don't keep very through and complete records of such use, the entire Mileage for the Year is Deemed Taxable. I think it is Great, cause there is far too many Company Vehicles that are never used for Company Business, but are driven by Wives and Kids of Business Owners, and are claimed as Business Expenses...

S corp different tax code. I refuse to feel guilty about it the private business tax rate once you exceed 50 employees, I will take every single advantage because who is taking the risk?

 

[Jeff J]

Loosen the radiator cap, leak should stop.

Bad idea unless only going a couple of miles. I burned up an engine when I was in my early twenties trying to limp a hose with a pin hole in it 50+ miles home with a loose cap and stopping at every exit to fill with water. The engine got so hot it quit and you couldn’t stand next to it with the hood open. The hood was so hot it was a struggle to get it open. It was a Sunday afternoon, nothing was open and I didn’t have any tools with me.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Bad idea unless only going a couple of miles. I burned up an engine when I was in my early twenties trying to limp a hose with a pin hole in it 50+ miles home with a loose cap and stopping at every exit to fill with water. The engine got so hot it quit and you couldn’t stand next to it with the hood open. The hood was so hot it was a struggle to get it open. It was a Sunday afternoon, nothing was open and I didn’t have any tools with me.

I was in Wisconsin dells 5 hours away from home Isuzu pick up water pump was more than dripping but a refills I limped it home, it did take out the alternator.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Bad idea unless only going a couple of miles. I burned up an engine when I was in my early twenties trying to limp a hose with a pin hole in it 50+ miles home with a loose cap and stopping at every exit to fill with water. The engine got so hot it quit and you couldn’t stand next to it with the hood open. The hood was so hot it was a struggle to get it open. It was a Sunday afternoon, nothing was open and I didn’t have any tools with me.

I once cut a flashlight body in my company issued tool box to repair a hose connection to get to a job site to take soil samples.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I once drove from UW Whitewater to downtown Milwaukee in the late 80s with a thermostat that pushed the plunger thru the brace. Used the heater to keep the motor cool. We would drive for about 10 minutes until the temp was about 220 then coast, allow to cool for 20 minutes, repeat.

Drove the car for another 40k after swapping the thermostat (until the rear suspension rusted off)

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I once drove from UW Whitewater to downtown Milwaukee in the late 80s with a thermostat that pushed the plunger thru the brace. Used the heater to keep the motor cool. We would drive for about 10 minutes until the temp was about 220 then coast, allow to cool for 20 minutes, repeat.

Drove the car for another 40k after swapping the thermostat (until the rear suspension rusted off)

Learn to limp is a lost art.

 

[jlh3rd]

Bad idea unless only going a couple of miles. I burned up an engine when I was in my early twenties trying to limp a hose with a pin hole in it 50+ miles home with a loose cap and stopping at every exit to fill with water. The engine got so hot it quit and you couldn’t stand next to it with the hood open. The hood was so hot it was a struggle to get it open. It was a Sunday afternoon, nothing was open and I didn’t have any tools with me.

it's a get home hack that might work. depends on the situation.