Greetings. I have recently aquired a 1978 Chrysler Sport Fury with an AQ140A engine on a 280 outdrive. The boat has two temperature gauges. One is on the dash and does not have numbers, only C---H. The other is mounted under the port rear seat facing forward and has numbers. The sender for the seat-mounted gauge is in the port side of the engine approximately under the forward carburetor. I can't find the sender for the dash gauge.
When we run at or near plane the dash gauge climbs from center to about 1/4 inch from the H mark. The rear gauge never goes above 150-160 degrees Fahrenheit. When we idle or run slow the dash gauge slowly drops to center, but the seat gauge stays the same.
I have felt around the engine and everything is cool or warm (but not too warm to keep your hand on) except for the valve cover which is very hot. I can't keep my hand on it for more than a second or less. I have water flowing through the sea-water strainer and out the exhaust, and there is coolant in the fresh water side.
My questions are, is the valve cover supposed to be too hot to touch? And why does the rear gauge never climb to operating temperature but the front gauge appears to show a hot condition?
Any and all advice is appreciated.
When we run at or near plane the dash gauge climbs from center to about 1/4 inch from the H mark. The rear gauge never goes above 150-160 degrees Fahrenheit. When we idle or run slow the dash gauge slowly drops to center, but the seat gauge stays the same.
I have felt around the engine and everything is cool or warm (but not too warm to keep your hand on) except for the valve cover which is very hot. I can't keep my hand on it for more than a second or less. I have water flowing through the sea-water strainer and out the exhaust, and there is coolant in the fresh water side.
My questions are, is the valve cover supposed to be too hot to touch? And why does the rear gauge never climb to operating temperature but the front gauge appears to show a hot condition?
Any and all advice is appreciated.