phattyduck
Elite Member
Sounds like not enough flow in the radiator if the engine is hot and the lower hose is cold. So, either bad thermostat or installed upside down (5vz needs jiggle valve down, opposite of basically every other engine).[MENTION=373697]The thing that got me going down this rout was when I was driving home from work. It was 58 outside. 45 mph and uphill. Engine rpm's were around 1800 rpm's. Temp hit 198 then 200 degrees. When I got home the lower radiator hose was ice cold. I let it idle for 5 more mins, still ice cold. It had pressure, and heaters worked.
Could this be a over cooling or to efficent radiator. Possibly. IE it cools the coolant way to fast, not letting the t-stat function as it should. Slowly open and slowly close. But honestly I don't know if that's what I have as 2/3 of my radiator is blocked by my plate bumper/winch.
Swapped in a 170 degree t-stat. Temps stay below 182 degrees and lower hose is warm after driving home in similar temps.
That said, 200*F is still perfectly safe - it isn't like you are damaging things at those temps.
-Charlie