Stewart Warner Temperature Gauge/sensor Reading Too High?

I put a new SW water coolant temperature gauge and sensor in my 56, and the temperature is reading way to high, pegging the gauge after just a few minutes of running, and still reading nearly 190 degrees after the engine has been turned off for 30 minutes.

I'm using this gauge, and the SW sensor that apparently goes with this gauge. Anyone had this problem before? I've never had this issue before, does the length of the wire or gauge of the wire from the sensor to the gauge matter?

This gauge, and this sensor:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SWW-82307

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SWW-280ED-F

 

I prefer a mechanical gauge to supplement the stock electric gauge. Thought I had heard SW has gone down hill.

 

SW got back to me and said it's probably the sensor that needs to be exchanged for a replacement. they gave me some OHM values to check against, I'll put a meter on it and see what the OHM values are cold, and after it's been running for a bit.

Yeah, the new gauges are made in Mexico now :-\ Which I guess in of itself doesn't mean they will be worse, but it does speak to them trying to cut costs I guess.

 

Like that they got back to you. You can't complain about the customer service.

 

I've found with most companies, if I actually just try to contact them, they are pretty easy to deal with. which is why I try to use well known brands. I'm sure this will get resolved

I think it also helps if you don't immediately suggest the problem is with their product. I simply asked if I was using the correct sensor for this gauges, or if I had wired it incorrectly. I let them suggest that the sensor might be bad.

 

Cooler heads often prevail. (Arrrr arrrr arrrr. Pun intended. )

 

I'm getting 320 OHM when cold (should be probably higher than 450), and 36 when warmed up (should be around 125 or so), both of which are considerably lower readings than what SW's chart indicates. Looks like it's just the sensor that needs to be replaced. It was brand new, so shouldn't have trouble replacing it.

 

It seems like maybe the f head has a bit of a problem getting coolant to fill the head. driving up and down a steep hill seemed to work when mine did that.

 

only problem with that is that even when the engine is dead cold, the sensor is sending a reading that is off by a good amount more than what SW lists as their tolerance for error.

 

LOL SW has been made in Mexico since 1984 Their quality is the same as its always been I have used them since my first vehicle in 1977 a 57 Wagon I bet I have had one or more SW gauges in 10 different vehicles over the years and never had a complaint.

 

Yes. 'Burping' can eliminate a hot-spot, although maybe not the case here.

 

x2

 

same here, I've always used SW gauges for my jeeps, this is the first problem I've encountered. SW did say that the readings were too low, and to send it back for a replacement.