Temp Gage info on my 1990 f350

[F350 Custom]

Is it normal to have the gage creep over the half way mark while sitting and idling in traffic. Seems like it started doing that after I changed my oil to 10w 30 Mobil 1 high mileage synthetic. By the way, I live in Houston where its getting to 100 degrees everyday it seems.

[mudseeker]

poor air flow through your radiator. clean the fins on your radiator and check your fan clutch. if elec. fans, make sure they are running.

[batty1214]

sitting in traffic, idling, is a way that vehicles run hot..... Your sitting on top of the pavement that only radiates heat back up, your not moving, which cuts the air flow moving through your radiator, and its ******** Texas in JULY!!!!........ anyway, yeah, trucks heat up while idling, sitting in traffic...... but like mud said, there are somethings you can check..... your fans, electric, or if you have a fan clutch, And blow your radiator out when you wash your truck..... don't get too close and bend the fins on it though....... that'll only make it worse.....

[gmctrucks]

Originally Posted by F350 Custom

Is it normal to have the gage creep over the half way mark while sitting and idling in traffic. Seems like it started doing that after I changed my oil to 10w 30 Mobil 1 high mileage synthetic. By the way, I live in Houston where its getting to 100 degrees everyday it seems.

I just replace my water pump with a high flow pump and I placed a severe duty clutch on my truck but in traffic on I-10 and Uvalde on my way to Hardin my temp went up but not close to the 210 mark you will even notice that your A/C won't get as cool till you start moving. I don't thing it has nothing to do with the oil it's just too hot here in Houston.
Be good! GMC
PS-You should have a big radiator on that bad boy maybe it needs to be flushed or place a mechanical temp gauge on it just to be safe. Also make sure you have Anti-Freeze in it also O'Reillys has Wetter Water radiator additive I heard that's good stuff but to me it's not worth $10.00 dollars.