Get a water temperature gauge, unless you want to guess based on the stock temperature gauge.ViR2 said:how do you check your coolent temps?
Thanks for the info. I'll stick with what I got then at least until I need to change it. Summer's coming up and then in January I'll be moving to Tucson.jdub said:The Toyota OEM stat operates at 190 deg. The only downside for a 180 deg stat is the time it will take to get above the 176 deg the ECU is expecting for a warm motor...it will take longer. During the summer (or in a climate like in Phoenix), this is minor...I use a 180 deg stat because getting the engine warm is never a problem and I want the radiator to get a jump on the high OATs here. Colder climates can be an issue though.
At 176 deg (80 C), the TCCS terminates warm-up enrichment...the time you stay below this temp, you are getting increased injector volume (through duration) and can run rich.
jdub said:After extended ops though, the coolant temp will reach equilibrium...i.e. the temp will increase to the point where it reaches the thermal capacity of the radiator to get rid of the heat produced by the motor. Once this happens, that is what you are going to get (assuming the stat is full open)...the condition and size of the radiator has the biggest impact, followed by fan efficiency.