Specification on thermostat opening?

[Vikas]

I *suspect* my car is warming little slower but I don't *know* that for sure. It is taking at least couple of miles of driving until the needle hits the normal and even then the temperature is still in 160. Only after another mile, it is at normal 185-190 range. The outside temperatures are not that cold yet. Since I hit the freeway within couple of miles of my house and work, I would prefer to reach highway with the normal operating temperature.

It is possible that it had always behaved like this but now that I have actual ECT readings, my awareness has heightened.

Should I be worried and put a new thermostat in it? Given it has timing chain, new water pump is not in the list of things to replace pre-emptively.

- Vikas 2000 Maxima

 

[The_Jeff]

As long as it gets steady your thermostat is fine. I bet you have a dampened gauge.

 

[The motor guy]

It's colder out so it will take longer to warm up. 18-190 is a perfect operating temp.

 

[OilNerd]

Vikas, I just changed a bad 'stat a few weeks ago. I could drive 30 miles and the temp wouldn't go higher than 164°F. Sounds like yours is working.

 

[mechtech2]

3 miles to complete warm up?
And you're worried?
That's FAST!

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
3 miles to complete warm up?
And you're worried?
That's FAST!


That's what I was thinking. My truck takes a good 10-15 minutes before it starts moving up with authority.

 

[Vikas]

Thanks for the reassurances!

- Vikas

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: cchase
That's what I was thinking. My truck takes a good 10-15 minutes before it starts moving up with authority.


Now that is pretty slow. My Camry shows "fully warmed" on the gauge in about 3 minutes' of driving. My Town & Country is a little slower, and takes about 5-7 minutes. My Dakota is slowest to start moving the gauge (maybe 2-3 minutes before it even moves), but it's "hot" by 5-7 minutes also.

If yours takes the better of 15 minutes before it even thinks about warming up, I'd suspect a stuck thermostat. Unless maybe it's a diesel?

 

[mechtech2]

Vikas -
Concerned with only a short drive to the highway?
I wouldn't be too concerned.
Modern thinner oils make this almost a non issue. And no one says you have to mash the pedal down hard and speed right away.

BTW - Many WWII planes needed warm up because of the straight 70W oil. They could start out at 200 lbs! Warm up before take off was needed.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: cchase
That's what I was thinking. My truck takes a good 10-15 minutes before it starts moving up with authority.


Now that is pretty slow. My Camry shows "fully warmed" on the gauge in about 3 minutes' of driving. My Town & Country is a little slower, and takes about 5-7 minutes. My Dakota is slowest to start moving the gauge (maybe 2-3 minutes before it even moves), but it's "hot" by 5-7 minutes also.

If yours takes the better of 15 minutes before it even thinks about warming up, I'd suspect a stuck thermostat. Unless maybe it's a diesel?


It's just a big cast iron V-8 engine block with a lot of airflow and a big frontal area. I wish it was as easy as a thermostat...

Even my car which has an aluminum V-8 and a lot of undercarriage baffling and not much frontal area takes 5-8 minutes to start warming up quickly.