car running colder than usual?

[Pontiac Racer]

its winter and i took an hour trip home today on the highway. the engine should be pretty hot right? no. my needle slightly over 160 and by slightly i mean like 3 or 4 ticks above 160. it runs at normal temp some days. is my thermostat going bad?

 

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Replace it, costs under 10 bucks.

 

[Pontiac Racer]

but is that the problem

 

[02NavyBlue]

If the gauge is reading correctly, the thermostat is your issue.

 

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

More than likely, it's sticking open some.

A new thermostat should bring it up the first big line after 160 on the gauge. Thats around 195-200 on most cars, give or take a little.

 

[ILoveAudi]

If it's not the t-stat, it could also be a coolant temp sensor.

 

[Pontiac Racer]

i drove it today and it was at the big line above 160. not really sure whats going on. maybe the cold just keeps the engine cold. but i still think thats not why? oh well, ill figure it out. thanks people

 

[indygrandprix]

i drove it today and it was at the big line above 160. not really sure whats going on. Maybe the cold just keeps the engine cold. But i still think thats not why? Oh well, ill figure it out. Thanks people

its the thermostat or the sensor!!!!!


To figure out which it is hook up a scanner to it and see if the gauage is reading the same as the temp the scanner says the engine is. If it's different your sensor is bad, if it's the same your thermostat is bad

 

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Like I said, the first big line after 160 is normally around 195ish. It's 160, 4 small lines then a big line thats about 195 and then 4 smaller lines and 210.

The stock gauge is kinda stupid in how it jumps temps so quickly.

I agree with the person above though, read the temp output from the sensor with a scanner to see what it's reading at first.