Engine temps in cold weather

[NickBeek]

We took the GC to NJ last weekend to attend a wedding. When we left NJ at 0400 yesterday morning the air temp was about 22 degrees. I let the van idle while we were loading up the luggage and the temp gauge started climbing as expected. Once we got on the highway and reached cruising speed of 70 mph I noticed the temperature gauge had not risen much more. I changed the EVIC over to read water temp and it was about 175- 177. I monitored several tens of miles and the wt would climb a little to a high of 185 on big hills, but it would drop right back to about 177 on flat ground. This stayed true for a couple hundred miles all at 70- 80 mph. When we stopped at a rest area, the engine warned up to about 200 while idling in the parking lot, but as soon as I got back on the highway temps dropped back down.

I am wondering if I don't have a faulty thermostat or if this is normal operation of the cooling system. Neither my truck nor my VW exhibit this behavior in cold weather.

Thoughts and experiences??


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[Jims1dodge]

The truck does that to me.  I can see when the thermostat opens and closes, even going down the road.  Summertime idle- stop and go- I'll see the guage creep to the high 190's and then drop back to 180 when the fan comes on.

[noplugs]

Well since I got rid of the trans/coolant inter cooler, my trans fluid runs much colder in the winter. Last years  trip to Indiana had the trans fluid temp at less than 100 degrees with the TC locked..