Need Heating/Cooling Advice Weird Issue Troubleshooting

[f2502011]

Working on an Early Bronco. Not sure what the normal operating temperature is supposed to be but when I drove it before I bought it, it ran right at 190 degrees. Now that I have it home, it runs fine and right at 190 when at idle or at a stop. When driving it goes up to 210 (next to last reading on the gauge (230)). If I stop it will go back down to 190. This makes me uncomfortable for some reason as I don't want to damage it.

Any tips or directional advice would be great. I checked the coolant and it was a little low so I filled it up. I pulled it out and drove it around my property. When I put it in gear the temperature seemed to creep up to around 210. Took it out of gear and/or stopped it would go back down to 190. The alternator was recently replaced so I'm not sure if that has something to do with this issue.

 

[broncnaz]

First I would verify the the temp with either a mechanical gauge or a laser thermometer. 210 is not to hot but it should be able to run at all the time 190 at this time of year.
A few other things that can make it run hot are to much igintion timing or a lean fuel mixture.
Do you have a fan shroud? Also a little air in the cooling system can push the temps higher than normal.
If its truely running how then I'd probably consider flushing the cooling system maybe getting the radiator professionally cleaned and replacing the T stat.
Alternator will have nothing to do with engine temp.

 

[DirtDonk]

Unless the belt is loose for some reason and is slipping on the pump pulley too.
Longshot, but possible.

Otherwise, what he said too.
If your coolant mix is too heavy with anti-freeze, instead of having enough water in the mix, it won't cool as well either. But I've done that and never had it change the temps it ran at by much. Especially in the winter.

Paul

 

[Steve83]

Not sure what the normal operating temperature is supposed to be...

180-220°F

...I don't want to damage it.

Unless you keep driving after it boils, you won't.

When I put it in gear the temperature seemed to creep up to around 210. Took it out of gear and/or stopped it would go back down to 190.

That suggests the gauge isn't accurate since those actions shouldn't produce any significant change in temperature, so it's probably just gauge fluctuations. Get a real thermometer, like this:

<-Clickit

The alternator was recently replaced so I'm not sure if that has something to do with this issue.

It shouldn't, but check voltage across the battery posts, and from the alternator output (B+) to its case, and from the Bk/Gn wire to the dash shell. Check each with the engine off, then with it idling.

 

[f2502011]

Get a real thermometer, like this:

<-ClickitIt

I'm going to definitely get one of these. Probably a dumb question, but how does it work or how would I use it on a vehicle to get the temperature?

 

[Skiddy]

it is infrared just point it where you want to take the temperature

 

[Steve83]

Point it at the t-stat cover, or the coolant crossover at the front of the intake manifold where the gauge sender is.

 

[mac77]

Could the voltage regulator on the guage cluster effect the Temp gauge reading?

 

[broncnaz]

yes but it will cause all the gauges to be off.