I’ve had my Escort Cosworth for 7 years now, and for all this time when the car gets to operating temperature, the temperature gauge has always shown between the black block and the “M”. In other words towards the bottom of the gauge. A few days ago, the temperature gauge has now started showing between the “O” and “R” of NORM all the time, even when stationery in traffic. I’ve checked the water level, and this hasn’t moved at all.

So the question is; where does your temperature gauge needle sit when running at operating temperature?

Cheers
John

 

Mine sits a fraction under halfway, but only by the smallest of margins.. - Which equates to roughly 92 deg on the secs

 

As Said above mine sits just below half way. Goes up to where your saying on a Hot day when its been stood idling. The Fans should bring it back down to half way etc.

Might be your thermostat.

 

R-M

 

Mine sits just above the black block during normal driving , rising to '0' in trafic but drops back down as soon as moving again. Running a alloy rad around twice the size of standard.

 

Mines about half way

 

just ever so slightly over half way

 

Thanks for all the replies. I might just change the thermostat, but seems nothing to be too worried about.

Thanks
John

 

Exactly the same as mine with ally rad but i did have hoter running temp with the standard radiator as it was semi blocked so try flushing your rad and heater matrix.

 

other point of failure could be the relay (big green one at the side of the battery) they actually switches the fans on from off to lo to high. mine was full of water and the inners had rotted out leaving only the high speed working whihch in turn caused the temp to rise up before the fans kicked in. i eventaully replacee the relay and fitted a 2wd stat so that the fans came in at high speed straight away at the lower setting.

 

Is there a way of checking if high speed and low speed works.

 

easyest way is to go for a run then leave it ticking over, the fans should come on low at first , hold it revving at around 3K for a couple of mins and then they should kick in high and switch off once down to temp again.

 

I realised not so long ago that althought i dont have the air con anymore, the switch still turn the fans on the slow speed setting, very handy for keeping it cooler in traffic.

But yes mine sits in the middle too, normally.