Is running this hot normal?

[TheV6Bird]

Since the weather has warmed up, my car has also. When I do some back road/city driving, I noticed that the temp gets to 210* faster (3.4 gauge= 160 low, 210 mid, 260 hot) sometimes it goes a little past 210, but then the fan kicks in and settle it down to 180ish. Is this normal? Is this bad to run that hot? Should I get a lower T-stat? I would get one, but in the winter, I'd be wishing I had a hotter one.

BTW, on highway driving, the gauge is somewhere inbetween 160 and 210.

[strange_trp]

yes this is normal.
couple of things to note:
1. lower temp thermostat won't help you sitting in traffic because there's still no air flowing past radiator. get a manual fan switch to control temp while not cruising.

2. the gauge on the instrument panel is just there to show you relative changes in coolant temperature. it is not at all accurate. best way to check actual coolant temp is with a pyrometer, measuring the heat of cylinder head. you can also look at ECT sensor values on scan tool but you'd still be relying on the data from the sensor which could be inaccurate.

learn where your gauge needle usually is when you're running down the highway. this will roughly be your thermostat temp. learn where your gauge is when the cooling fans turn on. this should be about 210 or so, but you just need to remember the position of the needle. you only really need to worry when the temp needle starts climbing past this point rapidly.
start the car, let it sit there and watch the gauge. let it warm up until the fans come on. your gauge needle should not go much higher than this at any time.

[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: strange_trp ]</p>

[TheV6Bird]

Whew! Thanks for the help, that made me feel better [img]smile.gif[/img]