Normal coolant temps

[cj80cruiser]

I'm wondering if my coolant temps are too high. It wass about 85* here when I sat in the parking lot waiting on the wife to come out of Old Navy. My ultraguage was showing right at 199.4, has me wondering if my thermostat is sticking.

Is that temp about right or am I running too hot?

I changed out the radiator last year and ran several gallons of distilled water through it for a couple days before replacing it with toyota red. However, I didn't change the thermostat even though I should have.

I saw a thread on another forum where members used a TRD thermostat rated at 160* instead of 180*. I assume that you need the lower temp t-stat if you have a SC but would it be a good idea for a non supercharged 3.4?

 

[4-Ripcord]

Im about to swap over to a 170* thermostat and new radiator. Im usually at 195-197. I see 200 in city traffic on hot days. Try adding a bottle of redline water wetter, supposed to help with temps.

 

[CodyX36]

Highest my UltraGuage reads is usually 204-208. Sometimes after driving for a while and I come to a stop, it goes up to 116 or so. Haven't had any overheating, so I would only start to worry if it went above that.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Anywhere between 188-193.

How old is the water pump?

Make sure the jiggle valve on the t-stat is situated at the 6 o'clock position.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Both of my 4Runners (98 and 2002) run at 200 +/- 5 when warmed up. The T-stat is designed to keep the temp right there all the time. Going to a cooler T-stat will sometimes allow a more aggressive tune (and make more power), but unless you have a tuner you can't adjust the timing on these anyway, and more timing on these probably won't gain more than a couple of HP anyway - they knock like crazy under load now. Other than that there's no advantage to a cooler T-stat, except it will probably hurt engine longevity and mileage (engine not running at peak/most efficient temp, engine tolerances set for designed engine temp). I wouldn't worry about temp unless it gets over about 220.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I did a little reading on the water wetter and it seems to be getting some bad reviews. Some ppl were experiencing sludge in their system after using all the different brands from redline to amsoil to royal purple.

It may be fine for our system but I hate to be the guinea pig for reported slight decreases in temp in real world use.

I'll just replace with an OEM t-stat

 

[Nelsonmd]

I am very consistantly at 191°C. Was all winter, and I think I was pretty much all summer last year too. It might have gone up a bit a couple times, but it's pretty consistent, even in traffic.

 

[02SE]

I am very consistantly at 191°C. Was all winter, and I think I was pretty much all summer last year too. It might have gone up a bit a couple times, but it's pretty consistent, even in traffic.

If you're truly seeing 191°C, that is way, way too hot.

191° C is 375° F

 

[G274R]

^^^^^ what he said... thats way too hot...

I have been running redline water wetter for a little while now and works great... my avg temps is 170-195 on a day thats 98+ degrees and thats here in Arizona... i will be keeping a closer eye during peak summer when its 120 degrees outside...

 

[cj80cruiser]

If you're truly seeing 191°C, that is way, way too hot.

191° C is 375° F

Pretty sure that was a typo :keyboard:

^^^^^ what he said... thats way too hot...

I have been running redline water wetter for a little while now and works great... my avg temps is 170-195 on a day thats 98+ degrees and thats here in Arizona... i will be keeping a closer eye during peak summer when its 120 degrees outside...

So, I'm guessing you aren't having any sludge issues? Hope those complaints I was reading were rare.

 

[02SE]

I hope for his engine's sake, that it was a typo.

I've been using Redline Water Wetter and distilled water in high performance motorcycle engines, for 10+ years. I've yet to see any signs of sludge in their cooling systems.

As for the 4Runner coolant temps; with the stock 180° F thermostat, I see anywhere from 188.6° F when it's cold during the winter, to right around 200° F when it's summer with the A/C running, and ambient temps are over 100° F.

I've used a Scangauge, and now an Ultragauge to read actual temps. Both seem to be equally accurate on coolant temps.

My 4Runner is a V6 manual trans. It seems to run slightly cooler than my Sister's, which is an automatic. I believe the difference is due to the built-in tranny cooler in her radiator.

 

[PNWRunner]

60 Degrees and below I will run at 186, anything above 60 usually bumps me to 188. Ill hit 190 if im driving real hard and in 4wd, but it usually won't go over that.

 

[Qyota]

Below 50 ambient (or so), and it will stay below 190. Above that, and it fluctuates between 190 and 194.

Before I changed my t-stat, it was consistently in the upper 190s and low 200s.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Oh yeah, I meant F. I only use C at work, so it's muscle memory to type a C after the degree symbol...

 

[kball]

FSM says 176-203F is normal range

 

[rjaudi]

Mine runs constantly at 205 degrees. This is with a fairly new thermostat, water pump, coolant and radiator.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Mine runs constantly at 205 degrees. This is with a fairly new thermostat, water pump, coolant and radiator.

I saw this with people that installed the jiggle valve at the 12 o'clock postion instead of the 6 o'clock. There are some write ups and mis-information out there.

Just a thought.

 

[rjaudi]

I saw this with people that installed the jiggle valve at the 12 o'clock postion instead of the 6 o'clock. There are some write ups and mis-information out there.

Just a thought.

Yeah, I might have to go move mine to the 6'oclock. I know its at 12'oclock since one of my manuals said to put it there.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Put the jiggle at 6'oclock and report back.

 

[Millerad1651]

Quick question...my temp gauge isn't numbered. I don't have a scangauge, or an aux temp gauge. My level is always slightly under half-way...I marked it with the white line. Anyone know what that temp is? I assume that its around 190-200, but I've never know for sure.