temp gauge reads hot, I dont think it is

[sean]

I can drive it one day and the temp gauge readl tward the bottom. Then later that day it will shoot to almost red. No ryme or reason to it. Replacet the thurmostat and sending unit. Still shot up to top (n). No milkey stuff in oil. No murkey stuff in coolant. It is circulating fine. Fan turns.
Now when it got up to the top (n) I shut it down and no hissing no gurgiling no nothing. The hose was hot as hell, as I am sure it gets that way when you drive. I used a towel and could squeeze it so it wasnt rock hard. I got it home and after a few min, I popped the rad cap and no eruption. What should I do. Unless someone tells me dif I am going to pull the thurmostat out and run it that way and see if that fixes the problem.
Any ideas will be great

[fst 5pto]

Is it a stock gauge or aftermarket?

[sean]

its a stock gauge. If I get aftermarket can I splice into the original wires, leaving them connected to the stock gauge and run the 2 wires from the sending unit to an aftermarket gauge?

[fst 5pto]

It comes with an adapter that goes in your lower manifold I believe it is and runs to the gauge, then you just need to tap in somewhere for power.

[sean]

put in new gauge and looks like its fine. Even unhocked the old factory gauge read in the middle... stupid thing

[fst 5pto]

Yeah I know most all my stock gauges are garbage. I never know how much gas I have lol.

[mustangjon]

just a sidenote... doesnt sound like this case... but grounds are a common source of factory guage issues on older cars. My gas gauge tach/speedo ect were all acting funny when i got car. The gas didnt work at all, turn the headlights on and the speedo acts like a tach, tach stopped working ect. Come to find out it was all in the clusters ground.

[sean]

I have seen that happen too. My gas gauge is screwy too. When its at 1/4 tank..... Im walkin'. Stupid thing. I went to a parts store to get a new gauge and I told the guy there my problem and that it was going all the way to the n just under the red. He says as long as it in within the normal range its fine???? come on. It may be true but I dont believe that crap. If its almost hot red line.... thats to damn hot. I am running 160 to 190 now and am happy I dont have to worry about that anymore. I blew up a 87 lx with a bunch of steeda parts and other things by not (believing the gauge.) Expensive lesson.