Running a new 350 in my Camaro, it was rebuilt over the winter. I'm not sure if it's a problem or not, but it seems to run too cool ????

At first I had a 195 degree T-stat in it, I had trouble getting the air out of the system, so I took the T-stat back out, and drilled a 1/8" hole in it. It solved the air problem, but the motor never really ran at 195 degrees, it was always in the 170's while crusing, and it would peak at about 185 stopped at a light....

I thought the hole I drilled was making the temp inconsistant, so I bought a new 180 degree t-stat. I swapped it in, and now my motor runs around 160 degrees while crusing, it might get to 170 (barely) at a light...

I thought that maybe my temp gauge was off, so I pulled the sensor, boiled a pot of water on the stove, and stuck the sensor in the pot while grounding the sensor to the engine block. The pot stopped rapid boilinb by the time I got to the garage, but the gauge still read it as 209 degrees... So I know the gauge is accurate (gauges are digital Nordskog)

How could this be? I though 180 degree T-stat would mean the minimum temperature of the system would be at least 180 (and maybe more if the rest of the system is inadequate) because the stat would not open below 180???

Is 160's water temperature too cool?

BTW, the temperature around here is only in the low 60's cooler at night, so I haven't run it yet on a hot day...

Thanks!

 

160 is too cool. 180 would be excellent.

 

there's more than one grade of thermostat - the good ones ( accurate) cost more than $2.99 - ask for a premium "balanced flow" thermostat like a robertshaw/stant/acdelco brand. should cost more like $10-15, and it shouldn't open below the rated temperature....