Hi everyone. Wanted some info about my 76 mk2 1.6 litre. When I'm driving around town or on the freeway the temp gauge sits a smidge under half. When I get off of the freeway, and come to traffic lights, heavier traffic, the temp gauge moves to a smidge over half. In extreme cases it has gotten closer to 3/4. It does have a brand new thermostat, 77 degrees I think. Reconditioned head. And I've flushed the radiator a couple times. I note that the engine fan is of the older non clutch style fan - spins as fast as the engine spins.

Anyone else have similar temp readings ? Is it normal? I remember when alloy heads came out, being told a temp gauge approaching 3/4 was something to start being concerned about. I've been told the difference between half on the gauge of the escort and 3/4 is only 3-4 degrees...

Input??? Thanks

Are you running the standard radiator shroud? This makes a difference when slow running in heavy traffic. It ensures maximum efficiency in pulling air through the radiator.
Are the radiator core fins in relatively good nick?
 
SFE

Before you go any further, use an appropriate thermometer and measure the actual temp.
Report back and then you can get some good input.

Some flactuations in engine temp due to varying driving conditions and ambient temperature is normal.
As SFE said fan shroud is very important.
Cheers

The engine running a bit hot due to driving conditions is normal, your head being cast, is not going to be affected by minor temp rises- the other thing is - what sort of condition is the water pump?  In old pumps the vanes wear with corrosion and don't push the same volume of water around. As Rs2000 said get a reliable baseline temp reading and go from there. Len

Yep, original fan shroud still on. Radiator fins are in good condition. Original water pump too. Will look at throwing on a digital water temp reader and see what it says. Any range as to what it should read when at operating temp? Thanks for the input

A clutch fan or viscous fan usually only makes a difference at speed, free spinning to reduce engine load, so you can rule that out. Ideally your temp should be close to the thermostat value. More likely your radiator core may have a few tubes blocked limiting the rads effectiveness when it doesn't have much air pulled across it. Your idle screw could be a bit lean also.