Engine/Coolant Temperature

[hhhh-lee]

Hi,

just another question: What is the normal operating temperature of the L56 Diesel engine in an 1996 Tahoe? The gauge reading varies pretty much, depending on the outside temperature.

At about 30--36 degrees celsius, the gauge goes up to almost the first thick bar between 70 and 100 degrees celsius. At about 20--25 degrees outside temperature, the gauge stays between the first and the second small bar, just a small bit above the lower end of the scale.

I've been trying to measure the temperature at the outside of the thermostat housing and got about 80 degrees celsius when it was hot, and about 60 when the gauge was at the lower end. But these readings are not realiable, as the resuls varied by 10--15 degrees depending on how I was holding the thermometer.

Does this seem to you as if the engine is running at normal temperatures? I don't want to damage it by running at temperatures too low ...


GH