Basically the temperature gauge only gets to about 1/4 way between cold and hot....is this normal? cos on my old TR 2.6 and my KE 3.5 it sits 1/2 way between cold and hot.

If this is not normal what should I do to resolve it? Does it cause the engine to run rich? Will it damage anything?

Thanks fellas.

Basically the temperature gauge only gets to about 1/4 way between cold and hot....is this normal? cos on my old TR 2.6 and my KE 3.5 it sits 1/2 way between cold and hot.

If this is not normal what should I do to resolve it? Does it cause the engine to run rich? Will it damage anything?

Thanks fellas.

Replace your thermostat:)

It wont cause the engine to run rich, just replace that and you should be right

']Replace your thermostat:)


Is this hard to do?

What happens if I dont?

How much roughly? ($$$)

From memory thermostats arent that expensive. Ring around a few wreckers and im sure they could do you a good deal

It's not difficult at all.

Drain your radiator, remove the top hose to make it a bit easier to get to the thermostat cover, which is on the left of the front bank and slightly towards the firewall, then unbolt the thermostat cover and lift the old one out. If the gasket comes off in one piece, well and good. If it doesn't, then scrape it off, making sure that none of it falls into the thermostat valley.

Slot the new thermostat in, align the new gasket, bolt the cover in place again.

Refill the system, fire it up, check for leaks and away you go.

Not replacing your thermostat won't destroy your motor straight away, but it'll cause your car to run rich, as the fuel injection sensor will think the motor's still cold, and inject more fuel to try and warm the motor up.

From memory a new Dayco 82*C thermostat and gasket cost me about $45 from Repco.

Veradabeast is absolutely 100% right! If you leave it the way it is, the choke will stay on the engine will not reach optimum temperature for lean running, your heater will not work and the engine will experience extreme wear!!! Change it NOW!!!!!!!!
Don't got ot the wreckers they will just laugh at you.......buy a thermostat new as they are very cheap insurance at around $20 tops at Supercheap!!!
DON'T IGNORE THIS!!!!! YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR ENGINE!!!!
Now stay cool and cruise!!:cool:
Moz!!:cool:

Just to reiterate.....the engine WILL experience premature wear as the it is designed to heat the lubricant at a predetermined temperature and the other sensors are sensitive to temperature for them to operate....and you will experience a jump in fuel use ......something you don't need right now!!:cool:
Moz!!:cool:

Cheers fellas, will ring auto spares (repco/super cheap etc) place tomorrow

could somebody take a pic of where im looking for this?

$12 + a few $$$ for gasket - Thanks Deano :)

woot!

Installed, temp gauge reads at 1/2 now, car runs 100 times better.

Thanks sooooo much fellas, glad it was a nice cheap fix, and I learnt a thing or 2 at the same time, always good :)

Old thread, but thought I'd keep the info in a relevant position;

I'm having the same problems, very much sounds like thermostat, so just to clarify so I don't go off half-****ed:

1. WHERE exactly is the thermostat on a V6? Service manual doesn't show it at all. I'm guessing inside the bell housing thing where the radiator hose connects to the engine?

2. Does the gasket simply sit in place, or does it need gasket goo of some sort?

3. Tips on how to drain enough from the radiator?

4. Any other general tips?

1. Yep, it's just under the housing. Unbolt it, lift it out of the way, and the thermostat is right there.

2. The gasket just sits there, you won't need any other sealant.

3. You should only need to drain about 3 litres, enough to lower the level below the thermostat. To drain the radiator, remove the cap (on a cold engine of course) and the get underneath with a bucket or pan, and loosen the tap at the end of the radiator until the coolant starts to drain out.

4. While you're playing around with the cooling system, you may as well check the conditions of all the hoses, the radiator itself, the coolant (rust, colour, oil).

I would use a touch of silicon just to be safe:D

...doesn't silicon attract rust? :confused:

Never use silicon, try the gasket without first, then if it leaks use a very little amount of gasket sealer.