I just installed a aftermarket autometer electric temp gauge in my 85 22re truck and was wondering if my readings were correct, I'm running 180 sitting still and 165-170 moving. I have a aluminum radiator from ebay , LCE flex fan, and the jiggle valve is broke out of my factory thermostat to correct the run hot when heater is on problem. I ask this because I had to use a metric adapter and the probe just barely sticks out from the adapter about 1/16" maybe a 1/8"

 

though I do not have an aftermarket gauge, I'd say that sounds close seeing as the jiggle valve is gone. My RV has a 180* t-stat.

 

sounds about normal to me

 

Of course, what temp your engine runs at will depend on the temp. rating of the t-stat in it. Generally the engine will run at about the temperature of the t-stat.

 

Its a stock thermostat 88 Celsius I think that converts over to 190 F ?

 

The way I would like to gauge whether my 85 22re gets too hot is to open the radiator cap and have it boil. I can't do this though because it's always too hot by this test. I had a Datsun Truck 1972 that you could open the radiator cap anytime and it would never boil. I wish my toy was like this cause I live in the desert.

 

in this kind of weather we have been having here (really hot) it usually runs around 210

 

engine savers, man i thought i had some problems, was going to tear my engine down. here in sacramento california, even with it being sept, now oct, we are still having 100 degree days, i just got my 87 4runner, and thought it was running way too hot, im used to 180 degrees. i have an infrared heat thermometer and i was poking around, measuring radiator temp, hoses, temp at the water pump, and at the thermostat housing. radiator top is by far the hottest, i've seen 210 to 220, and around 190s at the other locations, with the ambient temp at 100 degrees F outside, and my throttle depressor on, with the engine speed at about 2500 rpm. hope this helps. i don't trust my gauge readings, if i could have it, i'd have a calculation chart, and cheap dvoms hooked up to where all the gauges are.

 

It probably gets too hot because of the smog controls.

 

The 22RE in my 1990 pickup runs at 180F or less. It has a 180F thermostat, when it opens, the temperature drops. If I run more than a 50/50 mix of antifreeze, it won't even reach 180F and the engine won't run right.

 

all things working right the temp should stay right at the temp the thermostat is rated for or real close to it. If it does not there is a problem. Seems that toy rads are not really big enough for mods theat increase heat such as performance mods. Best to increase cooling capacity if possible. While pressure and coolant will increase boiling point, it seems to me that if I was running above 200 I would still be worried. A quick test for cooling ability is to put a load on the vehicle in hot weather and watch the temp. JUst driving around is not a load. Try climbing a long steep grade at high rpm's with extra weight. The cooling system should be able to keep up. In the case of the original poster, he is getting too cool when driving, so maybe a higher degree thermostat is in order.

 

my '88 22re will get about 1/2 gauge then drop to 1/4 gauge once the t-stat opens. then it just sits there. no idea what actual temp is. I'll put real gauges in it to replace the idiot lights and idiot gauges when I swap the motor out.

 

180 degree F on an aftermarket electric guage , exactly what my 180 degree thermostat is supposed to .

Quick question - What's the optimum temperature a 22RE is supposed to run at from the factory? I just guessed 180 when I built the motor 2 years ago.

 

you guessed about right my friend. i have a 180 tstat in mine, have had it for maybe 2 years, bought from toyota. never had a problem. (excluding last night, a hose ruptured)

 

Factory spec t-stat is 88C/190F:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...tml#Thermostat