strange cooling issue: gauge reads cool?

[drhill]

I swapped in a 180 degree t stat from rockauto.com a couple of months ago before taking the car for a dyno tune. Ever since, the car has run cool on the gauge - above the "C" but below the normal pointing just below "20 mph" on the speedo. It fluctuates between right at the low hash mark on the temp gauge and the normal pointing at 20 area. The pattern is what you would expect - cold outside and freeway cruise its near the bottom, idleing in the extreme heat it's back up at normal. This was a 180 degree stat. I just put in a napa 109 this am...same thing.

Any ideas? Yes - I did fill from the crossover plug with a funnel...

Thanks for the help!!

[Kennyrauder]

There is nothing wrong . You put in a 180 not a 195, so naturally the gauge will read cooler.

[drhill]

I was kinda hoping that was the case but I've heard people say that the gauge should read the same from about 180 to 230? Mine moves around all the time depending on the driving condition. NEVER gets above where it used to sit normally (pointing just below 20) but moves around a lot below that. Seems like both of these stats are stuck open somehow?

I installed them as the old one came out, stat is upside down as the housing sits in the car, o ring on top of the stat, between the stat and the bolted down top piece. Feels like I did something wrong? Those of you with 180 t stats - is your gauge stable like it was with the stock stat?

[RF Overlord]

I have a 180° 'stat in The Blackbird. Gauge reads steady just a hair below where it did with the original one.

BTW, Marauders came with 188° thermostats from the factory.

[drhill]

OK - new question - where does the o ring go in relation to the thermostat? above or below? i honestly forgot how the stock one came out when I put these two stats in. I put the stat into the housing, then the o ring on top and then bolted the "cap" on top of the o ring. I may have done this incorrectly?

[fastblackmerc]

OK - new question - where does the o ring go in relation to the thermostat? above or below? i honestly forgot how the stock one came out when I put these two stats in. I put the stat into the housing, then the o ring on top and then bolted the "cap" on top of the o ring. I may have done this incorrectly?

Is it leaking? If not you installed it correctly.

[drhill]

No leaks. Shoot. Any other ideas? I dont get why this thing runs cool, has to be the t stat or related because thats the only thing i have changed....

[drhill]

anyone have any ideas? I'm going in next week to have the final tune put on this car and want it to be right!

thx!!

[fastblackmerc]

As long as its not overheating don't worry about it.

[SC Cheesehead]

Any chance the gauge in the car may not be accurate?

[Marauderjack]

You may still have some air in the system allowing the temp sensor to cool momentarily as the air passes then go back up as coolant passes by??:confused:

Pull the cap when cool and see if you can add some coolant!!:beer: