3rdTimeOffender

The symbol you describe is the Brake-pad Wear Indicator. The brake pads are fitted with a small contact, that completes a circuit when one, or more, of the brake pads are worn down to the specified limit. You will need to remove the brake pads in order to determine which one is / are worn below that limit [You will be able to see the contact.] and replace the Front or Rear pads, as sets, as required!

Regarding the Oil Temperature, mine mormally runs somewhere between the Bottom [Larger] and the First [smaller] Indicator Mark, depending on ambient and operating conditions. On a particularly hot day, when idling in traffic, for a long peroid, I can expect mine to run up to, or even above, the Second [small] Indicator Mark, since there is little or no Airflow through the Oil Cooler.

Of course, as you suggest, the gauge, and / or, sender might be faulty! I would expect SOME smoke after a long idling period, since it will build up a little in the exhaust system!

Bear in mind that, the Cooling Fan will also effect overall engine temperature. Is the Fan Drive Belt in good order and correctly tensioned?

Also, how did you check the Oil Level? Checking the level Accurately, can only be achieved by using the Dipstick, with the Engine Running and at normal opearating temperature. The indicator gauge on the dash is, as the name suggests, no more than an indication of oil level!

I would have expected a 1986 car to have clocked-up rather more than 5,000 miles! Are you saying that the engine has been rebuilt, and has 5,000 miles on it? What does the oddometer read?

Hope this information helps a bit!

R.

R,

Thanks for the info on the brake indicator. The previous owner told me that the engine was rebuilt 5k ago but the car has around 167k miles total. I checked the oil after 20 minutes od good driving to get the temp up and I also kept the engine running while the car was on flat ground. It was down only a quart which I guess seems natural but I don't know the last time the oil was checked or changed since I don't really believe the previous owner. I had no where to get the PPI done but I plan to get a post buy inspection done by a reputable shop so I know what I have gotten myself into. Thanks for the info on the engine temp also. It has never exceeded the second tick mark yet. The fan drive is newer and to me seems tensioned okay but I don't have any specs on what that tension needs to be.

I ordered the Bentley service manual.

Thanks

Since I don't yet have a manual, could anyone tell me what the red light that stays on next to the parking brake light is? I thought it was some sort of check engine light. It sorta looks like a circle with dashed lines on the outside.

Also the car seems to be running hotter than normal or at least the temp gauge has the white tick marks and it reaches the top white tick mark. I have checked the oil level and it is good. Of course when she runs hot and then sits, she blows a lot of smoke.

Previous owner scammed me I think. He told me engine only had 5k on it but after I have inspected it seems not to be the case.

Any suggestions for how to make engine run cooler? Also, the oil gauge is pegged which makes me think the sending unit is bad. How do I check the thermostats? The oil line on the passenger side was hot and the one on the driver side was cold. Does that mean the oil is not flowing through the front oil cooler?

Thanks for the help.