90 240 gauge pointer of temperature gauge above middle

[Someone]

Decided to start another thread since it is a different topic.

I also have a 93 240, and I'm used that the gauge pointer of the
temperatur gauge is slightly less than middle.

But on my new 90 240, it is much higher than half. I was thinking
that the radiator might be clogged with dirt and/or inside is
rusted/blocked.

I was thinking to replace it with a brand new radiator. Can I buy one
from third party or should I stick with the Volvo oem?

Any other advice appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[James Sweet]

Decided to start another thread since it is a different topic.

I also have a 93 240, and I'm used that the gauge pointer of the
temperatur gauge is slightly less than middle.

But on my new 90 240, it is much higher than half. I was thinking
that the radiator might be clogged with dirt and/or inside is
rusted/blocked.

I was thinking to replace it with a brand new radiator. Can I buy one
from third party or should I stick with the Volvo oem?

Any other advice appreciated.

Thanks.

I like the Nissens heavy duty radiator myself, it has metal end tanks,
unlike the plastic stock tanks that fail catastrophically.

A bad radiator is far from the only thing that can cause it to run hot
though. Thermostat, fan clutch, or even the sensor or gauge itself can
have problems.

 

[Jon Robertson]

How is your thermostat ,does your belt need tightening ?Can you clean your
radiator fins out with detergent and hot water ?What about removeing it and
flushing it .If you do get a new one go for the heavy duty 3 row metal one
/.

 

[Someone]

How is your thermostat ,does your belt need tightening ?Can you clean your
radiator fins out with detergent and hot water ?What about removeing it and
flushing it .If you do get a new one go for the heavy duty 3 row metal one
/.

I had the voltage regulator at back of instrument panel change, but it
did nothing. (That's the voltage regulator for both temp gauge and
fuel gauge).

I was thinking to change the thermostat. Will take a look in Chilton
& Haynes. If I change it, do I need to flush coolant?

The needle behaves funny. Seems to go to 80% of gauge and then will
go down for no reason while I drive at constant speed.

My guess is either thermostat or radiator or both. In my 93 240, the
needle is always below 50% and constant, but in the 90 240, when it
stabilizes, it goes around 60%.

Thanks for the tips about radiator.

Another question though: If I change the radiator, can I fill it up
with the pre-mix stuff you use to top off coolant? Where I live it
goes from ~ -30C in Winter to +35C in Summer.

Thanks.

 

[James Sweet]

I had the voltage regulator at back of instrument panel change, but it
did nothing. (That's the voltage regulator for both temp gauge and
fuel gauge).

I was thinking to change the thermostat. Will take a look in Chilton
& Haynes. If I change it, do I need to flush coolant?

The needle behaves funny. Seems to go to 80% of gauge and then will
go down for no reason while I drive at constant speed.

My guess is either thermostat or radiator or both. In my 93 240, the
needle is always below 50% and constant, but in the 90 240, when it
stabilizes, it goes around 60%.

Thanks for the tips about radiator.

Another question though: If I change the radiator, can I fill it up
with the pre-mix stuff you use to top off coolant? Where I live it
goes from ~ -30C in Winter to +35C in Summer.

Thanks.

There were several different thermostats available, I've seen similar
behavior when a warmer one was put in the car. In this case I would
suspect the fan clutch, when that fails you can get similar behavior.

Yeah you can fill up with premix, or you can mix it yourself, it doesn't
really matter. You can pick up a hygrometer for testing the coolant mix,
it has a suction bulb that draws coolant up into a chamber where a
pointer floats depending on the density of the fluid. Ingeniously simple
and cheap.

 

[Someone]

There were several different thermostats available, I've seen similar
behavior when a warmer one was put in the car. In this case I would
suspect the fan clutch, when that fails you can get similar behavior.

Yeah you can fill up with premix, or you can mix it yourself, it doesn't
really matter. You can pick up a hygrometer for testing the coolant mix,
it has a suction bulb that draws coolant up into a chamber where a
pointer floats depending on the density of the fluid. Ingeniously simple
and cheap.

If it is the fan clutch, then what should be the proper course of
action?

Thanks.

P.S. I'm not too, too mechanically experienced.