Thermostat ?

[BurbLover]

Last night while plowing with my K5, I couldn't get heat. Engine never got over 150. Thinking the thermostat stuck open, I replaced it with a 190 one. Now, It wants to run around 200-215. Is this okay or should I go to the 170 thermostat? Thanks.

 

[imiceman44]

Last night while plowing with my K5, I couldn't get heat. Engine never got over 150. Thinking the thermostat stuck open, I replaced it with a 190 one. Now, It wants to run around 200-215. Is this okay or should I go to the 170 thermostat? Thanks.

If you're plowing and you are in the 200-215 and not going beyond 230 at the worst, you are fine.
The engine is most efficent around the 200-210.
So if it can stay in that range you're good.
Just keep watching it.

 

[BurbLover]

Thanks. I've been watching that guage almost as much as the road

 

[elacruze]

Verify that your gauge is correct with an external thermometer. Either the gauge or the sending unit might be reading high. I just installed a new 195* t-stat in mine yesterday for the same reason-my gauge reads between 195-200 now as it should.

 

[FWP]

It's not uncommon, from what I've researched, for the factory gage to be inaccurate. Mine's off by 15-20 deg, based on the aftermarket gage I have in the crossover pipe.