question about cooling.

hitnswitches · 11-12-2009, 01:44 PM

hello, i have a 96 blazer that has 200,000 miles on it. the temp gauge will only go up to 160 degrees.
i have replaced the thermastat with a 195 stat (boiled it first to test it)
new water pump, coolant is green and good.
repolaced the temp switch.
heater works perfect, actually i leave the heat off and adjust the hot/cold knob to hot and and gets very hot inside without the switch even on so the heater works great.

my question is this: why does my gauge read 160??

i have never seen one of these things read so cold.

i get 350 miles to the tank and at 20mpg (and its a 4x4)
so im not complaining, just trying to find out why it runs so cold

i have had it hooked to a snapon scanner and it reads it as 165 also, so its not my gauge.
oh, and i have seen it touch 215 when i changed my coolant it had an air bubble and as soon as it "burped" it went right back to 160ish, so i know the gauge goes up that high.

Crew Cab Sonoma · 11-12-2009, 02:18 PM

try another thermostat. i know you tested the first one, but just try another one.
then again, theres really nothing wrong with it operating at 160..

you didnt drill any holes in the thermostat did you?

hitnswitches · 11-17-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Crew Cab Sonoma

try another thermostat. i know you tested the first one, but just try another one.
then again, theres really nothing wrong with it operating at 160..

you didnt drill any holes in the thermostat did you?

well thats the thing, the 195 that was in it ran 160 on the gauge, i put another 195 (brand new) in it and it still reads 160.

when i boiled the second one, it opened up at about 200-205 degrees on the stove. i used a thermometer and watched the temp rise.

no i didnt dril any holes in the new one lol.

and also, i know theres nothing wrong with it runnin at 160 but im just wondering WHY its running so cold, ive never seen one of these run this cold before.

**deathphoenix99** · 11-17-2009, 11:44 AM

maybe the temp sensor is messing up. Try a infrared thermometer and see what it reads.

89S10WBlazer · 11-17-2009, 10:26 PM

my buddy's 96 runs at 160 all day long, with a 195 stat, so i would not be complaining. its better to run cold that too hot.

hitnswitches · 11-20-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by deathphoenix99

maybe the temp sensor is messing up. Try a infrared thermometer and see what it reads.

i have tried two different ones now. (new)

serpentracer · 11-20-2009, 03:36 PM

you're not alone. my 97 does the same thing.
it just started doing it out of the blue. even after I replaced the engine (not related to this matter) and put a new temp sensor in it still reads about 160-170.
I'm going with the gauge is just wrong.

Bdev · 11-20-2009, 03:56 PM

my '02 ZR2 is doing the same thing, and it even triggered the SES light. luckily i got a buddy with a reader and he has been checking and clearing it for me, it always says its running too cold. occasionally it will pop up to 200+ on a hot day when i first start up but within 10 minutes its back down to ~160

i tought at first i might need to change the thermometer or maybe i had a non-stock radiator or pump or something but checking it all its all working fine. maybe thats just what it does?

havent looked to far into the subject because the truck's running great besides that pesky guage

hitnswitches · 11-20-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by serpentracer

I'm going with the gauge is just wrong.

nope, mine has been on a $15,000 snap on scanner, it IS in fact running 165.

also like stated above, one day i did a coolant flush and it had an air bubble, so i have seen the gauge itself hit 215 so i know the gauge isnt stuck or broken.

serpentracer · 11-21-2009, 12:28 PM

I even went as far as removing the fan and drove it up the road for 4 miles(8 miles total) and it never went past the 160 mark.
I tried 3 new thermostats. all different brands too.

fastr68 · 11-26-2009, 08:02 PM

i have to say bad CTS or guage

no matter what anything says

use a thermometer

Bill Wheats · 11-26-2009, 10:13 PM

You may need the Stat with 2 springs in it. I know stant makes them but because they cost a little more, a lot of supply houese don't bother when a single spring stat will fit.

11-12-2009, 01:44 PM	#1
hitnswitches Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	question about cooling. hello, i have a 96 blazer that has 200,000 miles on it. the temp gauge will only go up to 160 degrees. i have replaced the thermastat with a 195 stat (boiled it first to test it) new water pump, coolant is green and good. repolaced the temp switch. heater works perfect, actually i leave the heat off and adjust the hot/cold knob to hot and and gets very hot inside without the switch even on so the heater works great. my question is this: why does my gauge read 160?? i have never seen one of these things read so cold. i get 350 miles to the tank and at 20mpg (and its a 4x4) so im not complaining, just trying to find out why it runs so cold i have had it hooked to a snapon scanner and it reads it as 165 also, so its not my gauge. oh, and i have seen it touch 215 when i changed my coolant it had an air bubble and as soon as it "burped" it went right back to 160ish, so i know the gauge goes up that high.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-12-2009, 02:18 PM	#2
Crew Cab Sonoma not low, not gonna be... Age: 43 Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,129 Location: Chattanooga, TN User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. try another thermostat. i know you tested the first one, but just try another one. then again, theres really nothing wrong with it operating at 160.. you didnt drill any holes in the thermostat did you? Last edited by Crew Cab Sonoma : 11-12-2009 at 02:23 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-17-2009, 11:41 AM	#3
hitnswitches Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. Quote: Originally Posted by Crew Cab Sonoma try another thermostat. i know you tested the first one, but just try another one. then again, theres really nothing wrong with it operating at 160.. you didnt drill any holes in the thermostat did you? well thats the thing, the 195 that was in it ran 160 on the gauge, i put another 195 (brand new) in it and it still reads 160. when i boiled the second one, it opened up at about 200-205 degrees on the stove. i used a thermometer and watched the temp rise. no i didnt dril any holes in the new one lol. and also, i know theres nothing wrong with it runnin at 160 but im just wondering WHY its running so cold, ive never seen one of these run this cold before. Last edited by hitnswitches : 11-17-2009 at 11:42 AM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-17-2009, 11:44 AM	#4
deathphoenix99 Electrical guy Age: 20 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 7,757 Location: Flint, MI User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. maybe the temp sensor is messing up. Try a infrared thermometer and see what it reads.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-17-2009, 10:26 PM	#5
89S10WBlazer Move over here I come Age: 20 Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 79 Location: Hebron Indiana User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. my buddy's 96 runs at 160 all day long, with a 195 stat, so i would not be complaining. its better to run cold that too hot.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-20-2009, 02:55 PM	#6
hitnswitches Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. Quote: Originally Posted by deathphoenix99 maybe the temp sensor is messing up. Try a infrared thermometer and see what it reads. i have tried two different ones now. (new)
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-20-2009, 03:36 PM	#7
serpentracer 4 wheels aren't as fun Age: 34 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,116 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. you're not alone. my 97 does the same thing. it just started doing it out of the blue. even after I replaced the engine (not related to this matter) and put a new temp sensor in it still reads about 160-170. I'm going with the gauge is just wrong.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-20-2009, 03:56 PM	#8
Bdev Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 43 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. my '02 ZR2 is doing the same thing, and it even triggered the SES light. luckily i got a buddy with a reader and he has been checking and clearing it for me, it always says its running too cold. occasionally it will pop up to 200+ on a hot day when i first start up but within 10 minutes its back down to ~160 i tought at first i might need to change the thermometer or maybe i had a non-stock radiator or pump or something but checking it all its all working fine. maybe thats just what it does? havent looked to far into the subject because the truck's running great besides that pesky guage
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-20-2009, 04:00 PM	#9
hitnswitches Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. Quote: Originally Posted by serpentracer I'm going with the gauge is just wrong. nope, mine has been on a $15,000 snap on scanner, it IS in fact running 165. also like stated above, one day i did a coolant flush and it had an air bubble, so i have seen the gauge itself hit 215 so i know the gauge isnt stuck or broken.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-21-2009, 12:28 PM	#10
serpentracer 4 wheels aren't as fun Age: 34 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,116 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. I even went as far as removing the fan and drove it up the road for 4 miles(8 miles total) and it never went past the 160 mark. I tried 3 new thermostats. all different brands too. Last edited by serpentracer : 11-21-2009 at 12:29 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-26-2009, 08:02 PM	#11
fastr68 easterwabbit Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 713 Location: Lincoln, IL User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. i have to say bad CTS or guage no matter what anything says use a thermometer
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-26-2009, 10:13 PM	#12
Bill Wheats Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,115 Location: Maine User is: OffLine	Re: question about cooling. You may need the Stat with 2 springs in it. I know stant makes them but because they cost a little more, a lot of supply houese don't bother when a single spring stat will fit.
	[Reply w/Quote]