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Ford Focus Oil tempature gauge fluctuating

  • 13-06-2011 10:31am
    #1
    John_Mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,793 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I have a 2002 Ford Focus (1.4L Petrol) with 66k miles on the clock.

    It is driving fine but lately the oil temp gauge is fluctuating rapidly. One minute it's in the middle, and then it suddenly jumps to 3/4, then sometimes back to the middle, or other times up to just below red before jumping back to the middle.

    The coolant & oil levels are fine and the radiator fan is working. The cold air is also working (even when the temp gauge is at the top). I have checked and there is no chocolate milky type substances on the dip stick or oil cap.

    Any ideas what this could be? Given that the temp is fluctuating so fast, I think it could be a bad sensor (as I would image the oil can't lose its temperature that fast).

    I'm strapped for cash at the moment so can't really afford to drop it into the garage until the end of the month. I don't want to cook the engine though :confused:

    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!


Comments

  • #2
    Plug
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,248 ✭✭✭Plug


    Are you sure its the coolant temperature your looking at? Im fairly sure oil temperature gauge was only on the ST and RS. If its the coolant temperature your on about it could be a dodgy thermostat, radiator or the sensor itself. i'd start at replacing the sensor as sometimes they can 'mushroom' out of shape.


  • #3
    John_Mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,793 ✭✭✭John_Mc


    Plug wrote: »
    Are you sure its the coolant temperature your looking at? Im fairly sure oil temperature gauge was only on the ST and RS. If its the coolant temperature your on about it could be a dodgy thermostat, radiator or the sensor itself. i'd start at replacing the sensor as sometimes they can 'mushroom' out of shape.

    Hi & thanks for your reply.

    I think it's the oil temp but I could be wrong. It's the only temp gauge on the dashboard of my humble bog standard focus :o

    That mushrooming of the sensor, would it be possible to visually check this? How hard is it to replace the sensor, and is it the oil temp sensor or the coolant sensor you recommend changing?


  • #4
    cml387
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,644 ✭✭✭cml387


    It's coolant temperature for sure.

    This behaviour sounds like a leak in the cooling system somewhere.
    Need to pressure test the system.
    One possible cause is a heater matrix.


  • #5
    Plug
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,248 ✭✭✭Plug


    John_Mc wrote: »
    Hi & thanks for your reply.

    I think it's the oil temp but I could be wrong. It's the only temp gauge on the dashboard of my humble bog standard focus :o

    That mushrooming of the sensor, would it be possible to visually check this? How hard is it to replace the sensor, and is it the oil temp sensor or the coolant sensor you recommend changing?

    Yeah its the coolant temperature alright:P Your coolant level is ok, that eliminates any leak so. The sensor is in between spark plug 2 and 3 and is straight forward enough, taking into account that you thought the coolant temperature was oil temperature and I think you should leave it to the pro's:o BUT if you are handy at DIY give it ago. Its a piss handy job anyway. Its narrowed down to them three things but do the sensor first as its only a few quid.


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