Temp Gauge

[Sidewayzzz]

Well, i'd like to first thank nissan for not putting the numbers next to the ticks on the gauge ... does anyone know which ticks represent which coolant tempatures?

[the head]

bottom is cold
middle is operating temp
top is overheating

that is as good as it gets if you want an accurate water temp guage buy aftermarket

[Sidewayzzz]

Pretty sure I could have figured that one out .... thanks ........

Anyone else know if any of the ticks represent say .. 160 / 180 / 200 / 220 .. etc..

[the head]

what I am saying is the gauge is not consistant...there is a signifigant variance in the sender and not enough range in the resistance to accurately display engine temp which is probably why not just nissans but most factory engine temp gauges dont have numbers ...it is like the low oil pressure warning switch on an SR sure its there but it is not very useful.

Now average Operating temp is about 195 so find out where your temp gauge sits most often and you have found roughly 195-210 degrees I would estimate about 50 degree increments on the hash marks on either side from center.

Are you nervous about your car overheating?

[Sidewayzzz]

Lets put it this way, i'm running straight water (i will put antifreeze in it, as soon as i get paid friday .. really not that dumb) and without a thermostat it will be fine .. but it'll never ever heat up. It's getting cold and I want heat #1...#2 the car runs better at operating temp .. (seriously .. would they put in the thermostat if it wasn't needed?) but with water in it, our thermo's open at 170...water boils at 200 ... thats only 30 degree's from getting out of my block and into my radiator to cool the fuck down or i'm going to be screwed...

[HalveBlue]

Actually, without a T-stat you're increasing the likelyhood of overheating.

But yeah, stock temp gauges suck, not only do they not give you an actual temperature reading but Nissan gauges are notoriously inaccurate as well.

Invest in an aftermarket gauge if you want an accurate temp reading.

[the head]

while your theory is somewhat correct you need to take a few things into account...first off our t-stats open at about 170 full open is close to 190 or 195.

Next water boils at 212 at sea level under normal atmospheric pressure in a pressureized system you increase the boiling point
for example if you decrease the atmospheric pressure to .0363psi (as opposed to standard atmospheric pressure of about 14.2) the water will boil at 70 degrees instead of 212...your cars coolant system functions this way as well the radiator cap has a pressure rating (IIRC the nissan one is about 15 psi) so therefore the boiling point will increase dramatically because it is 15psi OVER atmospheric pressure. I am sure someone can even supply you with the equaiton to figure your new boiling point but it should be somewhere between 250 and 260 degrees F

[projectRDM]

Midway on the gauge is anywhere between 160-240. There is no distinct place where it's accurate. Buy a real gauge or risk overheating.

And to add to that, the two DOHC engines I've seen overheat did so before the gauge read 'H'. SOHCs do it even quicker, with little indication as well.