Thread: 2004 - Normal Operating Temperature?

Under normal temps, the middle of the gauge is 195ish.

Seeing how its a tad warmer outside, those 2-3 ticks above likely fine, prolly around 205ish, which isnt abnormal for the summer heat. The car prefers that temp anyway, hence why they run the 195 from the factory.

Fan temps are 214 and 228, so you shouldnt be tripping them on yet. The fans will run with the A/C on.

A custom tune to the pcm would be the only way to adjust fan temps, so someone with a tuner that supports our cars could do it, but its not worth it.

Only thing I'd be worried about is trans temps on the 04+ car, they always tend to run hot and burn up the fluid quicker.

Try bleeding the cooling system of air again. It might help bring it down a little.

Seems like if its that close to the red, you are pushing 220ish temp wise, maybe more.

I thought maybe the cars digital info center might have had trans temp in it, but that might be a 5 button DIC thing.

why do people think a lower temp t stat will lower operating temp? why?

all it does is open up sooner by 15 degrees, if the car wants to run at 220, its still gonna run at 220, wheather you got a 180, or 195 t stat installed.

if you think its running to hot, flush the coolant, flush the radiator, replace the 195 t stat. dont bleed the t stat bleeder till the fans come on, that way you know the t stat is wide open. and leave the rad cap off while you wait for the fans to come on, this way you can top it off after you bleed it.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

why do people think a lower temp t stat will lower operating temp? why?

all it does is open up sooner by 15 degrees, if the car wants to run at 220, its still gonna run at 220, wheather you got a 180, or 195 t stat installed.

if you think its running to hot, flush the coolant, flush the radiator, replace the 195 t stat. dont bleed the t stat bleeder till the fans come on, that way you know the t stat is wide open. and leave the rad cap off while you wait for the fans to come on, this way you can top it off after you bleed it.

because with it opening up sooner they think it will stay cooler. all it really means is that it opens up sooner. The car is designed to run at a certain temp anything below that and you burn more fuel because your computer thinks its still cold.

when the car is hot, or good and warmed up, carefully grab the upper hose, it should be warm to hot as hell, now go touch the lower rad hose, it should be cooler. if the lower hose is cold, the rad is clogged up.

when you flushed it, how did you go a bout doing so? you let the engine pump the coolant out, or just pulled the hoses off?

Hopefully you blead the engine with the bleeder valve atleast 6-10 times if not more, it takes more times than you think to get air out. Just because you may see coolant coming out doesnt mean there still is not air in there.

. This is just for the op to know with his gauge cluster about where his temp.is

I wait till it reaches the middle of the gauge and open the bleeder for about 2 seconds, close it, then wait another 20 seconds and do it again. I'll do that for atleast 5-10 times to make sure all the air is gone. I also leave the rad cap on while doing this.

the way i like to flush the system is to take the lower rad hose off, drain it and the engine from that hose take the upper hose off the rad, now take the t stat housing off, remove the t stat, put the housing back on, use the old gasket or no gasket, wont matter as your gonna put the t stat back in later.

take your hand cover the lower rad hose, now fill the rad with water, push the hose down let the rad drain via the hose as fast as it will come out, it should come out rather fast, fill and dump it a few times, then put the lower hose back in the engine, fill the rad with water from a hose, take the upper hose thats still off the upper rad, push it down to a bucket, turn the hose on and leave it on and in the rad so it stays full, start the car, the water will pump out the upper hose to the bucket, run the car till clear clean water comes out.

go turn the hose off. then run the car till no more water comes out the upper hose. then turn the car off. put the t stat back in, the upper hose back on the rad. then dump one whole gallon of straight antifreeze not the 50/50 crap. then fill the rad the rest of the way with water, start the car, leave the rad cap off, let it idle till the fans come on, once the fans come on the t stat is surly open. then bleed it. if the rad level drops while your waiting for the car to get hot, add more water. top it off then cap it.