is the gm guage a dummy that just goes up to 210 and gets stuck???

I hav a 160* t-stat and Raging tuned me and I was told that the fans were reset for that t-stat.....should I see alower temp???
on the stock GM guage

 

I installed my hypertech 160 thermo and installed the hypertech reprogram for the fans, and on top of that I bought the slp fan switch. I ran into the same situation. I was seeing my needle near the 210 mark and it was pissing me off . But after hooking my car up to a hand held OBDII reader I found it was actually in the 180's and not in the 200's like the needle was SUGGESTING. If I were you I wouldn't be to worried. Just swing by autozone and have them hook it up to their hand held and see what it reads.

 

 

Mark tuned my car and he also installed a 160 thermo. He told me the stock gauges suck and never read correct. well I guess I got pretty lucky cuz he told me what temp my engine will be running....my gauge is identical to what he said. I've also gotten lucky with the oil pump and oil cosumption...no problems!!! anyway, don't believe the gauge.

 

I was pretty sure it was a dummy guage....just wanted to make sure...

 

Yes, you can auto tap to be sure but when my guage shows 210, with my 180 stat and reprogrammed fans auto tap shows about 190.

 

On 99 and up F-bodies, the temp gauge is a dummy gauge. On 98's they were a little more accurate.

 

Yes, and a 160* thermo alone won't do jack squat to the engine temps, you need to reprogram your fans

 

The stock temp gage is of little value more than an idiot light. It reads 210 anywhere from 170ish to well over 210. When the car is truely running 160 the stock gage will start to drop away from the 210 mark a bit.

 

The other thing is that peoples' opinions vary
on just what the "proper" fan settings for a
low temp 'stat are. Some actually say the low
speed fan should still be set up around 185 - 190
(at which point the 'stat is only a restrictor
orifice) and that's where your temps will be.
Better than the stock programmed 210F, for sure,
but not going to make the ECT track the nominal
'stat rating excapt with a good headwind.

My ECT with the stock 'stat, and fans set lower,
is 194F and my needle is slightly to the left
of the center tick.

 

Yah, I also notice that if the needle ever gets slightly right of the center mark, it's getting pretty darn hot. Around 225

 

Yes, my stock gauge will read the same(208*) when the real temp is anywhere from 170-240

 

I have a 160 t-stat and the only time my temp gets to 210 is if Im stuck in traffic. Other than that my car never really gets past 180.

 

That is because we have working temp guages

98's OWN when it comes to working gauges..

Ryan.

 

Ditto....and don't forget slightly bigger injectors!!