Temperature gauge only rises when I drive

Tiny
CHRSHUCKABY
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD F-150
  • 203,000 MILES
Can you tell me what would make the temp. Gauge rise when I hit the gas but fall when I let off. I have a ford f150 w/ v6 4.2 I can let it idle for ever and it wont run hot. If I drive it once I get over 35 mph the gauge starts going up but when I let off the gas it goes back down.
Monday, November 28th, 2011 AT 3:20 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Cold be a bad sender or a bad ground. Make sure the coolant level I s full as well.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, November 28th, 2011 AT 3:32 PM
Tiny
CHRSHUCKABY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
If the sensor is bad, could I just be getting a wrong reading or is the engine really running hot. It never does steam up or boil.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, November 28th, 2011 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I thinkit would be a wrong reading. Some of these sensors if you have the worn gmix of antifreeze screw up their readings. I doubt the engien is running hot, if it was it would be low on power and other indications. The only thing I can think of other than that would be a water pump impeller is slipping on the shaft whe speeding up. You can always manually check your temp while running at idle as well.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, November 28th, 2011 AT 4:03 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Instrument Cluster Gauge Engine Temperature Content

VIEW MORE