Temp. Gauge

[pilot81]

I have a 2002 Adventurer 32 on a W20 chassis with the 8.1L V8. I have the old analog temp. gauge. The gauge never goes above 160 degrees (even going up hills in the mountains of Tenn.). I mensioned this to my dealer - they said that WH put a resistor on the gauge so it would not go higher at normal temp. Is that ture? If so why have a gauge that doesn't tell the truth?

I don't know if its the gauge or is the engine realy running that cool. Has any one else had this expierence?

Reinhard
2002 Winnebego Adventurer 32
2005 Jeep Liberty

[pilot81]

I have a 2002 Adventurer 32 on a W20 chassis with the 8.1L V8. I have the old analog temp. gauge. The gauge never goes above 160 degrees (even going up hills in the mountains of Tenn.). I mensioned this to my dealer - they said that WH put a resistor on the gauge so it would not go higher at normal temp. Is that ture? If so why have a gauge that doesn't tell the truth?

I don't know if its the gauge or is the engine realy running that cool. Has any one else had this expierence?

Reinhard
2002 Winnebego Adventurer 32
2005 Jeep Liberty

[TOMFEN]

Reinhard
It is the gauge, I have an 02' Brave that reads about the same as yours. After I put a scan gauge on it, the normal temp reads 195deg. The highest I have seen on the scan gauge was 205deg after a long fairly steep climb. Seems as though I read somewhere that WH did this because people were getting excited when the temp got a little above normal.

Tom

[oemtech]

The temp gauge is nothing more that a "feel good" idiot light. The average Coolant Temp under load will be about 200 degrees.

Remember, that your cooling system has antifreeze, is under pressure and both raise the boiling point. A 50/50 mixture of antifreeze with raise the boiling point about 20 degrees. Add a 14 lb pressure cap and you raise it another 50 degrees.

[MikeT]

Pilot81,
Your dealer is misinformed -- the guage is a software driven device with a pre programmed range before it shows changes.

[Bigdaddy]

MikeT is correct!

[pilot81]

Thanks for the info. I have since bought a Scangauge and it tells me that the water temp is indeed geting up to the proper temps. When the thermostate opens at about 200 deg. the factory temp gauge sits at 160 deg and never moves. This is the older analog gauge in my 2002 Winnebago. The Scangauge is great I just wish it would also read the transmission temp.

Reinhard

[LeeB]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by pilot81:
Thanks for the info. I have since bought a Scangauge and it tells me that the water temp is indeed geting up to the proper temps. When the thermostate opens at about 200 deg. the factory temp gauge sits at 160 deg and never moves. This is the older analog gauge in my 2002 Winnebago. The Scangauge is great I just wish it would also read the transmission temp.

Reinhard </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have the same set-up... I bought a scan gauge and the temp runs between 195 and 205 (even on the hotest days and hills)....

My work truck has transmission temp gauge and the temp runs real close to what the H2O gauge runs.. Hope this helps.....

[Fred and Bonnie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TOMFEN:
Reinhard
It is the gauge, I have an 02' Brave that reads about the same as yours. After I put a scan gauge on it, the normal temp reads 195deg. The highest I have seen on the scan gauge was 205deg after a long fairly steep climb. Seems as though I read somewhere that WH did this because people were getting excited when the temp got a little above normal.

Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tom I got similiar readings using the Davis Car Chip, I really don't think 10º will show on the instrumentation.

Fred

[max49]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MikeT:
Pilot81,
Your dealer is misinformed -- the guage is a software driven device with a pre programmed range before it shows changes. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do you know the ranges? For example, 'normal. (gauge in the middle) goes from low normal temp
maybe 160 degrees?, to high normal temp ,maybe 200 dgrees? . I just can't figure out when and at what temp the gauge starts moving up.
Does this gauge have any advantages over just a plain old idiot light that does'nt come on til you're boiling over and possibly blew a head gasket or damaged something else?

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max49:
Does this gauge have any advantages over just a plain old idiot light that doesn't come on til you're boiling over and possibly blew a head gasket or damaged something else? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Max, If you see the gauge begin to climb then there's a problem. It just won't all of a sudden spring up or turn on like an idiot light. The gauge will slowly increment upward IF there's a problem.

If you see your gauge on anything else other than 3 o'clock within a few degrees + or -, then you can suspect that there is something wrong ... in the meantime .. stop worrying and go and enjoy driving your motorhome. I thought you were going on vacation ...

[max49]

Jan 4th or 5th was the plan but may put off til the 7th so we can see Anaheim 1. Going to vistit the inlaws so I'm not in too big of a hurry.
You better hope I don't have 'no problems' with the Workhorse because you know I'll be back. You don't want to give me your cell #, just in case I do, do you? just kiddin with ya Driver.
I'm going to be in Corydon, Ind (near Louisville, Ky)and besides viting the caves, I don't know what I'll do there. Don't they make MH's in Indiana some where. I hear people on here say that it's interesting to see how these things are made.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max49:
Don't they make MH's in Indiana some where. I hear people on here say that it's interesting to see how these things are made. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>If you want to I can probably get you an appointment to go and see how Workhorse Chassis are made in Union City. Just let me know if you would like to do a factory tour.