Thanks, Scope and Damion!
This one^^^ I'll see if accessible enough.

Meanwhile,
For the heck of it, I tested the new sender to tabulate resistance vs water temp as baseline. I did not bother with the old sender because problem was intermittent and I do not like to accumulate stuff.



It wasn't too difficult to remove the old temp gage sender. The connector does not have a latch so a pair of long-nose pliers did the job.
17-mm deep socket to remove the sender. To replace, I had to stuff the void inside the socket with paper towel to push sender out so threads stayed outside the socket.
Most challenging part was it I could not feel the threads engage to make sure I did not cross-thread.

 

how was the coolant loss? minor?

 

Yes, Wally, very minimal.
Last week, on hotter day I ran my AC, yet gage with old sender read low. When I measured tstat housing it also read around 190°F.
I will hold off on radiator replacement just to see if anything changes.

 

cool! pun intended.

 

So after many weeks, temp reading had stayed where it normally did, just below half-way. Finally replaced my radiator.
Many posts talk about the CSF 2314 but it did not fit my shroud and was shorter than my existing one. CSF application website is confusing. Summit Racing website also has a feedback that 2314 did not fit his 22R-E.
Ken at CSF headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga specified 2306 for my taller core and fan shroud. Could have something to do with "tow package" mentioned in Toyota Parts Deal website.
I ordered the CSF 2306 from Carparts.Com that charged less and shipped from Rancho Cucamonga, not from Summit Racing which had longer lead-time.

 

So the top sits at the same height as the stock rad?

Any clearance issues with the bottom?

 

THE 2306 fits Perfect like my old one which Ken at CSF said must be a 2306 (got serial number but no part number).

CSF and Summit Websites say 2314 fits. However, a review on Summit Racing's site itself said shroud needed to be trimmed. There must be different sizes of radiator and shroud for the 22R-E



CSF 2314 DOES NOT FIT MY SHROUD


MAKE SURE YOU MEASURE YOUR SHROUD AND CORE HEIGHT OF EXISTING RADIATOR BEFORE ORDERING


CSF 2314 CORE HEIGHT


CSF 2306 CORE HEIGHT

 

It was in the 90's Fwy 15 last weekend. Driving uphill with AC on and comfortable on blower position 1, gage read just past halfway point. Not bad, I guess. Manual says that between the top and bottom white marks is OK. Your thoughts please?

 

That seems to be where I'm at all the time. Even my FJ is about the same. Wheeling in the woods on a 95 degree day in 4 low or stop and go traffic and highway it's at the same spot.
I'm referring to the photo just above where your going 60.

 

If you are going uphill on a 90 degree day with the A/C on, that temperature gauge reading is absolutely fine. Your cooling system is performing well.

In the owner's manual, Toyota says that to keep from overheating, turn the A/C off if the temperature gauge approaches the red area going uphill in warm weather.

In other words, Toyota expected the coolant temperature to be warmer than normal under your conditions shown.

 

That’s a pretty darned good test. I think you’ve got it resolved now.

 

Drove to Fort Bragg a few days ago during the heat wave. On Tejon Pass AC (90's outside temps) was comfortable even on lowest blower setting, while cooling system stayed at half-way on dial.