thermostat question

[Mr.s13r]

Well i just installed the sr and i don't really know what temp is suppose to be good for the sr since it is turbo. I set my electric fan to kick in at 192-194ish, but tonight, after i drove home from work, i decided to see if the bottom radiator hose is hot or warm but it is not. The top is warm though. Also my temp gauge is reading 180ish the whole time driving home (bout 20 min drive). The temp sensor is feeding into the top radiator hose by the way. So my question is, is my thermostat bad? Because yesterday it does open up though, or is it because it is like 38 degree outside? Also, i drove below 3000 rpm the whole way home since im breaking in my clutch. Lmk guys thanks

[bl3ujay07]

imo i would change the thermostat during the swap. Easy, inexpensive, and insure your engine a bit.

I have a 2 inch core radiator, nismo thermostat, and an electrical fan connected to ignition and so far, no problem whatsoever. I got scared for a while when my temp gauge didnt go up past the halfway mark, but after driving it for 30 mins, it finally got up to a bit over 1/4 way mark. Thing is, i havnt really driven it really hard yet or for a long period.

I dont know if it is working or not, but if unsure, i would change it. Only like $60 (???) at nismo shop.

[Mr.s13r]

Well i did change it when i did the swap. I got the OEM one though so iono what's the different. Also, my stock gauge went to half though but the bottom hose is still not warm like the top one.

[DRFT180]

Bottom hose should be warm/hot no matter what with a stock thermo, or any thermo for that matter.

Are you sure the system in bled correctly?

[Mr.s13r]

Im pretty sure. Because if not then my stock and new temp gauge would go up like crazy, but then again i got the electrical fan to kick in at 190ish. Iono, can you tell me how to see if i bleed it right?

[Sileighty_85]

SR stock thermo should open at 169.7* F

Set ur fans to open around then

[Mr.s13r]

wait don't you want your engine to be warm at least? If you set you where it is open then it would be cold all the time right? lmk still new to these things

[Mr.s13r]

Ok, i just drove the car under 3 grand for 30 mins and it read 184-186ish the whole way (free-flow) and then once i hit a lil traffic then it starts to jump up to 190 then my fan kick in and it drops to 184ish again. Is that normal? I really think my car is heating up too much but then again iono since this is my first sr.

*This is also with 45 degree fahrenheit something degree outside*

[Sileighty_85]

which radiator are you using?

Its probably all rusted inside, bent fins, or not enough air flow.

I have a Nismo thermo and my temp stays right at 67*C = 152*F Never higher

[Mr.s13r]

I am running the koyo with dual fal with oem thermostat, i got the koyo new so it would rust in 4 days i believe

Also, Sileighty_85, do you think my temperature gets that high because i am driving at low rpms since at lower rpms, the water pump at lower speed?

[Sileighty_85]

I do know when I had my SR stock radiator/single E-fan and OEM Thermo (koyo Aluminum now with Nismo Thermo)

My temps were around 185ish on a hot day,
Air flow makes a huge diff, do you still have the condensor for the A/C in front of your Rad? If so then the Condensor might be all fubar blocking Air Flow?

[Mr.s13r]

Yea i still have the consdensor since ill try to hook back a/c, the only with that is the line with the fitting touching the intake pipe.

[makulit054]

My sr ran in the same temp range. My aftermarket temp sensor was placed on the side of the block. During the summer it got up to 200 and my efan kicked it back down to 185. I was running stock ka radiator with 16" FAL fan. Had no problems.

[Bigsyke]

This normal. My fans kick on @ 203F.

34*f after 30mins driving my lower is cold, upper is very hot. Let it idle and the lower will start to heat up, if it doesnt then you have a problem.

~190*f is normal operating temp, you dont really want much lower for a DD else your oil could contaminate

[whereda40at]

i dont mean to thread jack...
i think i might have a problem with my thermostat or temp gauge. i watch my temp gauge and it takes a while to come up. once it is at the half way mark on my stock temp gauge. when i get on the throtle the gauge will go down. i can do a video of it tomorrow to better explain it. but after it goes down some times it will stay down. some times it will come back up. but never does it go over the half way mark. i had the motor build and it didnt do it until i broke the car in and at about 400 miles is when it started to do it. im not sure if the shop that built my motor had replaced the thermostat. i am wondering if it is a thermostat issue or a wiring with it some where.
how should i trouble shoot this??

[Mr.s13r]

If you guys said 180-190 is normal then i felt relieve, for the whole two days i think my car is running hot cause that is where it is at the whole time i drove it, about 180-190 and my fan kick in at 195. Also my thermostat do opens up but i didn't really check to see at what specific temperature. So yea confirmed working if you guys said 180-190 is normal. Thank again guys

[makulit054]

that's normal range.