hi guys
got an interseting problem. i have an ef falcon. on a hot day last summer coming back from the beach wiyh the wife and kids we blew a radiator hose while driving. the engine began to ping really badly then cut out.
replaced the hose and got going again but ever since then the car has been running at a higher temp on the gauge. say at about the M and on a hot day the O or even the N.replaced the thermostat,cap, flushed system,replaced coolant etc....it doesn`t use any water.
ran the diagnostics and temp was about 100 give or take a few degrees constantly. is this temp reading the actual coolant temp or is it relative to where the gauge is pointing? seems to run at 92-94 till put under load or if the weather is hot and when it reaches the 100+ it doesn`t seem to cool down from there at all.
help...

Did you check to see if the radiator core is blocked, eg: air not going through it?. over time it can get clogged with dirt & bugs.
Is the thermal fan working?

yes and yrs

radiator tanks are likely to be blocked thermostat shouldnt be the prob

if u drain coolant out what colour is it does it look rusty or dirty?

100 + degrees is pretty safe for cars since after 1985, unless you're contently pinging.
it might be worth checking your cat converter as well {blocked}. don't know if its related.

take it in to a specialist a get it reversed cleaned & pressure tested or you might have air pockets trapped in there somewhere, test by removing the radiator cap & run the engine until all the air escape.

I usually leave the cap in recovery position when I'm carrying a heavy load on the Ute.

Hi Busterbill,

I had a very similar problem recently and followed all the "fixes" you have. Now my car is a 1991 EB, so I don't know if you will want to try this. Replace the temperature sender unit - replacing it on mine fixed the problem, including the pinging and has been fine ever since.

It is entirely up to you if you want to try it, but you have tried everything else there ain't much else. Give it ago

bingo!

YES I AGREE IF THE SENDER UNIT GETS TO HOT JUE TO A HOSE BLOW IT WILL SEND THE SENDER UNIT BONKERS

I concur, probably cooked the sensor.....they all wear over time, something to consider!