When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Installed new water pump and low-temp thermostat and want to verify tstats set operational water temperature. Unit that came out rated 181 degrees and date coded February 2004, new one 160 degrees and June 2021.
Measuring with an infrared thermometer 160 degree tstat started to open about 170 degrees, was very open at 190, and at 200 fully open. The 181 degree tstat started to open at 176 degrees, was very open at 200, and fully open at 210. My measurements seem to show tstats with a rating 21 degrees different, in reality the low-temp one will set actual water temperature about 10 degrees cooler which I suspect is the perfect operating environment.
I learned thermostats don't pop open and closed at the rated temperature, but gradually do so over a wide temperature range, which may not be the rated values. Note the low temp tstat the spring coils are fully compressed while the regular temp one is only partially open with coils still having a way to go.
Next will check if dash temp gauge reads about 10 degrees lower with a fully warmed engine.
01-31-2022, 12:52 AM
