Hi Guys
After the rebuild of my 2L in my Yellow RS i have a bit of trouble with the Engine Temp.  Engine has had a full rebuild back to stock.  Has had a total rebuild fully flushed out radiator, brand new thermostat 92 degree, brand new thermostat housing and water pump.  Brand new radiator cap.
 
First problem was the radiator keep spitting out fluid and not building up pressure.  Radiator cap was no good.  Replaced and then built up pressure and worked.
After this the temp guage kept going to red very quickly and nothing in between.  So I replaced the Thermostat with a 85 degree as I have run the 85 degree in every other Escort I have owned without any problems.
 
No everything seems to be working find and looks great.  But the temp guage sits and stays just over 3/4.  See below.
 
Any suggestion on where to go from here and what could be wrong.  I am thinking guage and possible sensor.
 
Cheers
Andrew

Hi Andrew,
Possibly the wrong temp sender? Swap the one out from the other RS just to rule it out.
 
Rhys

Thanks Rhys.  Will give it a go.
 
Does anyone know if the Standard 2l Sensor is the same as the RS Sensor?
 
Cheers
Andrew

That's about where my guage sits. Check the water temp using a thermometer to see if it aligns with the temp guage. If it's running too hot, don't forget to check the fan belt is correctly adjusted  

I always drill two 10mm holes into the thermosate.

Hi, your engine is either running hot (check this first) or your gauge is reading incorrectly. To check your gauge you need to disconnect the sender and connect appropriate resistor between the wire and engine block/head(ground). Gauge specs are C=73ohm, N=25ohm, H=10ohm
The sender is the same on the non RS Escorts. To check sender you will need to heat it in fluid and check resistance, it may be easier to just replace with a known good one or new.
 
Drilling your thermostat causes a very slow warm up and overcooling on cruise and driving downhill etc especially in cold weather. From experience its a waste of time and you shouldn't need to do it.
Good luck with your diagnosis.
Cheers
 
PS. On my RS at 90degC engine temp gauge sits just under first white line.

What is the point in drilling holes in the thermostat, you may as well just leave it out. They dont seal that well inside the housing anyway so drilling holes would entirely defeat the point of having a thermostat