Hi,

So far, I have replaced the temp sender (gauge was not reading anything) and thermostat (thermostat was stuck open so was taking forever to warm up, never getting past an 1/8).

I put in a toyota OEM tstat and the temperature gauge continually shot up to where it almost overheated (got to about 3/4 and I pulled over). So I popped in a normal one stage tstat from NAPA with a 1/16 hole drilled in it (folks said this helped with the overshoot issue) and now the temp gauge sits slightly above half. There is slight movement but it hovers around either slightly below or above halfway. The picture shows the highest point it will get and thats where about it sits all the time really. Its Sunny and 90 degrees here in Milwaukee. I let it sit for about 15 min idling and that seems like where it wants to live drove it around in some stop and go traffic didn't creep up on me. I did burp the system (warmed up with rad cap off burping the top radiator hose intermittently) - heat was on high when I drained it.

I did a combustion leak test - liquid stayed blue (although the tester kept wanting to suck up coolant). No oily coolant or milkshake on my dipstick.

Any thoughts? Should I go on with my life or should I figure out how to get the temp down?

picture: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v5S...ew?usp=sharing

 

The t stat toyota sold me was a single stage it looks like, not a two stage.

 

Quick update : bought a Infrared Temperature Gun from the ole' harbor freight. When the gauge is shown as pictured (slightly above half) the temperature is only at about 188-190 degrees. From what I have read this is well within range the operating temp for the 22re.

 

Was the front of the truck elevated when you burped it?

 

 

The Factory gauge at best gives you a idea of the engine temperature ..

 

The dual stage thermostat is the fix for temperature overshoot. There was even a Toyota TSB about it. In my experience, SR5 gauges typically sit about a hair's width below horizontal at normal temperature. Base model gauges usually sit right around 1/3 up.

 

+1to above comments.
I would trust the digital thermometer better.
Yes, Near Zero is cold, Below red line is OK.
Would like to install a more exact temp gage someday.

O.P.,
I haven't checked normal operating temp range on FSM, but where did you take the readings? Just anywhere on the block?
My 1986 dlx normally sits at 1/3. Goes up to about 1/2 warmer temps going uphill. Sometimes reaches 3/4 in really warm weather climbing Tejon Pass or Cajon Pass (Not scientific bur practical test of cooling system in So Cal - LOL!)

OEM Dual-Stage T-Stat looks like in stock photo.

Some may come in "Toyota" packaging. Actual tstat I got from LCE is shown in TAMA package, according to LCE is the manufacturer for Toyota.

 

Nice. I think if anything the temp sender I put in (cheapo from NAPA) must not have the correct resistance in it or something.

I was grabbing the temperature from the thermostat housing and upper rad. hose. It reads hotter at the tstat housing (not sure how that works since it is metal). A few places I read said to get it from the upper rad. hose, but my mechanic friend said he checks t stat housing, radiator and upper rad. hose.
From what I read people said as long as it's between 190 and 205 should be good. The hottest I measured was at 202 and that was after cruising on the highway on a 90 degree day and sitting at idle afterwards.