I had the oddest thing happen today while out. I had taken the car to go get some groceries, and the engine heated up to it's normal 220 on the gauge (which in reality is more around 185 according to a laser reading). For those that don't know already, I have a mid-80's 350 Chevy engine from a Vette.
So, like normal, while driving it ran just a tad below that mark, and at any stoplights it runs at or just a bit above it - and of course the fans, well, one big fan comes on - the smaller one had been out a while and I disconnected it so it wouldn't keep tripping the fan breaker. But even on hot days, the big fan always does a decent job of keeping things in check.
So after hitting Target, I run over to a Carl's Jr and after ordering, I'm waiting in line - and the temp looks fine. As I pull up to the window, after being in line about 10 minutes, I notice the gauge has jumped to just below the red. It seemed like it just climbed rapidly.
So I shut off the engine while waiting at the window for my order, about a couple minutes, then fire it up, and now the temp is down around the 200 mark. As I started driving, it went back to 220, and while at a light for a few minutes, it stayed there.
When I got home I let the car idle in the driveway for another 5 minutes and it didn't happen.
Any ideas?
Bad otterstat not turning on the fan and being intermittent? Or? I'm pretty sure i heard the fan on when it started to climb on the gauge as I had my door open when in the line. Maybe just a wonky gauge anomaly?
Maybe it was from being behind another car pretty close in line and the heat from their exhaust was causing an issue?