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Old 07-25-2014, 07:38 AM   #53
epapp
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 700
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by aneal000 View Post
No, just needed some yesterday so I ran to the local dealer. $56 a gallon plus tax.


Completed the project last night. It wasn't bad, just had to take your time and realize you are working in tight quarters most of the time. Drove it to work this morning. Of course now I'm wondering where the temp gauge should be and where it used to be. I installed the low temp thermostat (160). The gauge on the dash still shows 180-190 range during highway/aggressive driving. Any thoughts if that is normal or an indicator of possible air still in the system or of Pelican sending me a 180 deg thermostat? For some reason I am under the impression that a 160 deg thermostat would make the gauge read 160?
The 160 thermostat debate will never end, but a few things for sure: it opens SOONER than a 180 degree thermostat. Your car will warm up a LITTLE bit slower because of coolant flow sooner in the heat/warmup cycle. The engine is STILL putting off the same amount of heat as with a 180 tstat so steady state will inevitably be the same, but with the 160 tstat it will take longer to see the steady state, and depending on the drive/weather, you may no longer get to steady state of ~195 on the freeway and 204ish while sitting still. It 'dampens' the warmup cycle, but the car will still get hot; the lower temp tstat is no miracle drug.

You will never see the difference reflected in the gauge, only with a durametric or OBD readout of the temp.

Also, warming up slower means the fuel trims are richer for longer, so you are probably using MORE gas, depending on when the ecu stops warmup fuel trim..
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