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gtachris · 28-04-2008

Originally Posted by Pud237

But there is a difference between the car not overheating and the car overcooling.

Running at around 75 degrees isn't normal, as the thermostat should stay closed until 85 degrees. If you think your thermostat isn't stuck open, then hold your hand on your radiator and get someone to start the car - I bet the radiator will get warmer from the offset, rather than staying cold until the coolant temp reaches 85, which should then open the thermostat and allow the hot coolant to run into the cool radiator. In fact, this opening of the thermostat the first time the car is started from cold is what causes the little drop in coolant temp as the car is heating up, mentioned by GTAChris..

This is all assuming your coolant temp gauge is accurate, which often isn't the case though, and this complicates things further.

Pud, I agree on most points except mine will normally run at 75-80 deg on the move, always 90 in traffic and the thermostat is fine, the old one that came out was fine and there was absolutely no change in the temps experienced when it was changed.
156 GTA's seem to run cooler.

28-04-2008	#18 (Post Link)
gtachris Club Member Club Member Number: 52 Join Date: May 2005 Location: loughborough Posts: 3,012 Member car: gta sportwagon	Re: Concerns with temperature Originally Posted by Pud237 But there is a difference between the car not overheating and the car overcooling. Running at around 75 degrees isn't normal, as the thermostat should stay closed until 85 degrees. If you think your thermostat isn't stuck open, then hold your hand on your radiator and get someone to start the car - I bet the radiator will get warmer from the offset, rather than staying cold until the coolant temp reaches 85, which should then open the thermostat and allow the hot coolant to run into the cool radiator. In fact, this opening of the thermostat the first time the car is started from cold is what causes the little drop in coolant temp as the car is heating up, mentioned by GTAChris.. This is all assuming your coolant temp gauge is accurate, which often isn't the case though, and this complicates things further. Pud, I agree on most points except mine will normally run at 75-80 deg on the move, always 90 in traffic and the thermostat is fine, the old one that came out was fine and there was absolutely no change in the temps experienced when it was changed. 156 GTA's seem to run cooler.