Coolant Temp

[OldNuc]

The gen-1 91-some 95 will run close to straight up but noticeably to the left side of the 1/2 mark, higher than the 3/8 position.

[SlayZombi]

Originally Posted by Saturn Night

The top photo shows the seal is cracked on this old T-Stat, which is why your coolant gauge was reading low.

Yeah that's what I suspected.

[Saturn Night]

Originally Posted by OldNuc

The gen-1 91-some 95 will run close to straight up but noticeably to the left side of the 1/2 mark, higher than the 3/8 position.

Hey, Trottida, I am going to add my photo to Nuc's quote. Just note, 1995 S-Series still have the 2nd Gen interior and gauges. The first Gen gauges should read about the same location as my photo.

[trottida]

Originally Posted by Saturn Night

Hey, Trottida, I am going to add my photo to Nuc's quote. Just note, 1995 S-Series still have the 2nd Gen interior and gauges. The first Gen gauges should read about the same location as my photo.

It never occurred to me the 95 would have the GEN2 gauge cluster. Of coarse it would now that I think about it. I'd like to see a 91-94 gauge photo if anyone has it showing the correct operating temperature.

Edit: Here are 2, the first from a 92 SL2 with the oil pressure gauge but not up to operating temperature. I think the second one is running cool. Thoughts?

I have officially high-jacked this thread ... sorry

[NWSaturn247]

I replaced the thermostat on my '93 with a made in China 14279 and the needle was usually planted a needle worth past the half way mark. After a couple years about what it would read on a gen2

China sucks

[Saturn Night]

Originally Posted by trottida

It never occurred to me the 95 would have the GEN2 gauge cluster. Of coarse it would now that I think about it. I'd like to see a 91-94 gauge photo if anyone has it showing the correct operating temperature.

Edit: Here are 2, the first from a 92 SL2 with the oil pressure gauge but not up to operating temperature. I think the second one is running cool. Thoughts?

I have officially high-jacked this thread ... sorry

The actual gauge assembly has no bearing on where that needle sits. The 1991-1994 needles will be around the same area as where my gauge is showing in my photo.

[trottida]

Originally Posted by Saturn Night

The actual gauge assembly has no bearing on where that needle sits. The 1991-1994 needles will be around the same area as where my gauge is showing in my photo.

Anyone on here who has a 95 GEN1 will know likely that it is "special" and "unique". If someone who has a 91-94 GEN1 and is on here looking to find out what the proper gauge reading should look like, I don't want them questioning why the photo shows a different gauge than what they have. This is why I'd prefer an early gauge photo.

[OldNuc]

The 95 looking instrument cluster is electrically entirely different than the later ggen-2 cluster.

[trottida]

Originally Posted by trottida

Anyone on here who has a 95 GEN1 will know likely that it is "special" and "unique". If someone who has a 91-94 GEN1 and is on here looking to find out what the proper gauge reading should look like, I don't want them questioning why the photo shows a different gauge than what they have. This is why I'd prefer an early gauge photo.

Found this one. Do we agree this is a typical reading for proper operating temperature for the majority of the Gen1 model years? OldNuc, something you wrote leads me to believe that the temp gauge calibration changed mid year 95. I can't find it now but is that correct?

[Chazberry]

Originally Posted by trottida

OldNuc, something you wrote leads me to believe that the temp gauge calibration changed mid year 95. I can't find it now but is that correct?

Fwiw - this is my '95 SW2 cluster . . .

[Zeebins]

No one can really seem to come to an agreement on where the gauge should sit on these forms so I feel like the best answer to the commonly asked "Where should the gauge sit?" is somewhere between,

here


and here


regardless of the year. If it sticks at 1/4, you're thermostat is probably stuck open. If it sits at 3/4 and you're cooling fan doesn't come on, (mine doesn't come on until 3/4 anyway, might be a little less for others) you have some other problem with your cooling system. Anywhere between though is probably fine

Mine sits about a needle width under the half way mark at 195, or about here at 185.


And I have a 97, not 00-02


These gauges aren't the most precise thing in the world and based on what I've seen here on the forums, there doesn't really seem to be a absolute definite place they should be for each generation. Saturn probably did try to have them all sit at the exact same spot (I don't see why they wouldn't) but really it all depends on how it was calibrated from the factory.

If you want to know exactly what the temp is without guessing if the gauge is right, get an OBD2 scan tool. (for 96 and up) Most the the cheap 15-20$ ones on Amazon can read live data and then you'd know for sure if your car is running too hot or too cold.

[trottida]

I know they are not terribly accurate but for someone with an early GEN1 comparing to a GEN2 you'd think that your gauge reading is right on the money. I would expected a GEN1 failed thermostat to read like a GEN2.

When I replaced my GEN2 thermostat with a new Stant I thought it was defective; I was expecting it to read like my GEN3. It isn't really documented well within this forum that there are 3 distinct calibrations through the generations. I'm just working towards best representing them within one post that can be quoted in the future.

Yes, using an OBDC reading or thermometer held within the coolant return stream is ideal.

[cgg17]

My 1995 sits:
-One needle width below half
-At half
-One needle width above half

[Saturn Night]

Originally Posted by trottida

Found this one. Do we agree this is a typical reading for proper operating temperature for the majority of the Gen1 model years? OldNuc, something you wrote leads me to believe that the temp gauge calibration changed mid year 95. I can't find it now but is that correct?

That one looks good. You should include this as 1991-1994, and place mine as the Gen-I 1995(all 1995 models got Gen-II interior and gauges).

[OldNuc]

That looks good for a 91-94 car. The gauge calibrations did change in the 95 model year as the instrument cluster changed to the gen-2 design from the gen-1.

The issue is relatively simple. In the industrial human factors world normal operating point on a dial type indicator is the 1200 position. In the automotive world the tribal knowledge of owners is that cooler is better. So from 91 to 02 the normal indication crept downward with each succeeding generation all using an identical cooling system design and an identical set of thermostat specifications. Minor variations crept in with the different parts suppliers builds of the various cooling system external components.

[ampecsu]

Please refer post #6's quote

I have a 95 SL2 but a 98 motor. I did some things after the upper radiator hose burst on me that include replacing it and replacing a broken ECTS connector (single wire) that had been broken for a while but still on the sensor. Last month replaced thermostat when doing a flush.

The car seems to be doing ok after a 15 min test drive. But Im curious b/c after a warm up and drive the temp gauge rose to what the Gen 2 says it should in the quote. Is this correct for my situation? 98 motor in 95.

[fdryer]

Your '95 engine used two coolant sensors. A single wire one for the temperature gauge and a two wire one for the pcm. Is the two wire sensor connected to the pcm? This sensor is more important than the temperature gauge.

[ampecsu]

yes, two wire is there too just below

[fdryer]

I think you're engine is fine. The gauge needle between the 1/4 and 1/2 marks is the range for a good t-stat (between 185F-200F).

[ampecsu]

thanks. tested it out and the fan came on about 3/4