Temp Gauge needle position question.

[beat90tsi]

Last week my cooling fan wasn't coming on when it should, I have since fixed the problem.
At the time, I was outside my car and it was idling. When I got in I found the temp needle was on the far right side of the white mark in the center. I immediately started driving and turned both fans on with the AC switch. However now when I drive it I see temps of ~201/204 on the logger during normal driving, it used to be more like 194/197. This happened both during the day and after dark. It seems like a small difference, but I'm concerned about the health of my HG and or head. I guess I could just get the coolant tested for exhaust gas, however my question is how hot was it when I had it that far right? I know nobody can give me an exact answer, but it would be nice to have an idea.

I didn't look at that logger at the time because I was too busy trying to get it back to normal operating temp. The needle is in the same position at 204 as it was at 194, so I would guess it was significantly higher when it was all the way over on the other side of the mark.

Thanks for you help in advance.
Jon

 

[Burnett03]

its safe to run them at 204. Mine runs considerably lower but it doesnt matter that yours is a bit higher. As long as it doesnt get past 210 or so you will be fine.

 

[beat90tsi]

I know I'm not doing further damage at 201, but do you have a good idea of how hot it was when that needle was 1/4" to the right of where it's supposed to be?

 

[deusxmachina]

If the needle was that far over, it was "pretty damn hot." Do a compression test if you want to see how your head gasket is doing.

 

[Defiant]

The damage might be in your temperature sender.

 

[beat90tsi]

I'll try a new sender and do a comp check.

 

[98spydert]

The stock gauges are worthless. They'll tell you when it's too late but that's about it. My stock gauge doesn't even move between 180 and 230. It just sits in the same exact position. Below middle is "warming up" middle is "warm-hot" and over the middle is "You should have bought an aftermarket water temp gauge"

 

[wortdog]

My stock gauge actually works pretty well for whatever reason. During summer track days, my car gets up into the 230 degree area and even to 240 in heavy traffic(silly Hondas in the way of my clean air). The stock gauge is pretty much 3/4 of the way over at 235. For me, 195 is straight up and down, 190 is a bit to the left, and 200 is a bit to the right. I doubt you hurt anything, unless the 2G gauges are way different.

 

[98spydert]

That's weird. I know my temp sensor isn't broken because DSMLink reports accurate coolant temp readings from the temp sensor. The gauge just doesn't go anywhere until an extreme temperature.

 

[wortdog]

The gauge and the ECU read temperature from separate sending units.

 

[98spydert]

Ah, I'm guessing the small single wire sensor is for the gauge?

 

[deusxmachina]

You are correct, sir.