My 1986 245 was all tuned up for a long haul from the east coast to Wisconsin and back that I'm going to be taking soon, when I noticed on the highway that the temp gauge was creeping up. I was going about 75, and it dipped back down when I slowed down. When my speed went up, so did the gauge. The next time I started it up, everything was OK. Normally I wouldn't care, but I don't want to get stranded in Gary at 2:00am. Should I prophylactically replace my thermostat? Any suggestions?
thanks,
Kurt

Come on, Gary is a beautiful place.

The thermostat? Yep, dump it. Anyway, it only takes five minutes.

Backflush the radiator with a pressure fitting on a garden hose (at least) from the engine side and see what kind of crap comes out of it. That is something I recommend doing every season, as dirt and debris accumulate in the fins of the radiator. Quickly.

If the temp gauge STILL creeps up like that, give the dashboard a sharp whack, in the vicinity of the temp gauge. If that changes it's behavior in a very short period of time, consider bad signal circuitry.
--
1992 940 wagon, 72k
make people envious; smile often.

On an 86 I would absolutely distrust the temp Compensation board B4 anything else, absent strong under-hood evidence of overheating.

My 86 244 B230F gauge wanders top to bottom to mid to bottom, so I've taken to checking the evident heat under the hood if things look too wild.

If in doubt, take along two antifreeze containers with the 50/50 mix, they'll fit in the RH "Spare tire" well.

Also, check that temp gauge variation another way: When it's above normal, switch the heat-cool lever to full hot. See what the gauge does. If it drops, the heat isn't being removed from the engine fast enough.

First - pressure hose clean the rad and condenser, blowing from in the engine bay outwards. Wear something washable.

Second - be sure the coolant is fresh and is a 50/50 mix with steam distilled water.

Third - check the thermostat for accurate operation.

Good Luck,

sounds like a great trip.

Bob

:>)

240 series had some heating probs-def change your thermostat-and if you want to eliminate 99% of your heating probs-get your radiator rebuilt with 3 rows of tubes from the orginal 2 rows-- I did and never have heating probs now! Check your water pump also--and make sure fan belts and hoses in good condition-and belts are properly tightened. BTW-if you don't do all that stuff and it starts to get too hot on your trip-open your heater all the way--the extra circulation can help-you may get hot-but will help your engine to cool down a little bit--usually.

Any recommendtions on where to get this sort of radiator? thanks for all the advice, everyone.
-Kurt