Chris Zacho The Wheelman wrote:

Have you checked the water temp with a thermometer in the filler neck
after running for a while?

Hi.

I have a 1991 Ford ranger (2.3 4-Cyl) that will not warm up into it's
normal operating range. The temp guage is working, and I have replaced
the thermostat in the cooling system three times now, with no change. Or
rather, my mechanic has (and yes, I've watched him do this, he's
honest).

Yet still, unless the outside temperature is at least 75° to 80° F
or warmer, the engine stays "cool". This kills my gas mileage when it
happens, and I'm sure it isn't doing the engine much good either to be
running at an inefficient temperature.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? What was the cause? Both my
mechanic and I are stumped. The Haynes manual gives no answers except
the thermostat or the guage, and we've eleiminated these possibilities.
Is there anything else that could cause this?

Thanks for your time.

Hi,

I had an '83 and '93 Ranger, both with the 2.3, both did the same thing
in spite of new thermostats.
Only time either temp guage went to the middle of the scale was when
idling in Vegas in summer with AC on, during winter I had to put cardboard
in front of half of the radiator to warm them up.
Basically, they got a radiator thats as big as some V6 and probably V8s.

Good thing is it will never overheat.

Hi.

I have a 1991 Ford ranger (2.3 4-Cyl) that will not warm up into it's
normal operating range. The temp guage is working, and I have replaced
the thermostat in the cooling system three times now, with no change. Or
rather, my mechanic has (and yes, I've watched him do this, he's
honest).

Yet still, unless the outside temperature is at least 75° to 80° F
or warmer, the engine stays "cool". This kills my gas mileage when it
happens, and I'm sure it isn't doing the engine much good either to be
running at an inefficient temperature.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? What was the cause? Both my
mechanic and I are stumped. The Haynes manual gives no answers except
the thermostat or the guage, and we've eleiminated these possibilities.
Is there anything else that could cause this?

Thanks for your time.

I have a '91 Explorer and it never seemed to warm up enough.  My wife was
complaining about the heater not getting hot enough this past winter so I
put in a 198 degree thermostat.  Seems to have helped.

- -

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

"May you have the winds at your back,
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

ChriszCorner@webtv.net (Chris Zacho "The Wheelman") wrote in news:21583-
49EF4A66-452@storefull-3253.bay.webtv.net:

 those require the correct thermostat. the generic parts store ones
have too big of seep hole in them and that is enough to keep them too
cool.  KB   also I would check the actuall temp the eng is getting too
with a inferared thermoter.