Car engine temp/ Thermostat temp ratings

[Brock Landers]

I believe my 1996 Grand Am needs a new thermostat. The car runs great...but if I hit bad traffic, the temp keeps inching up to the top. The radiator was flushed last summer, and there is no signs of a bad head gasket (I think?).So I figure this would be a good starting point.

There are 2 thermostats available for my car. 1 is a 180F temp rating and the other is a 195F temp rating. Which would be better for my car (I live in MN)? Is there one I absolutely shouldn't go with? The engine is a 2.4l 4 cyl. Any other ideas on the problem...water pump doesn't leak but...

Thanks

[Ridenour]

Go with the 195 thermostat. That's essentially the stock temp. Your 2.4 likes to run a little hotter anyways, added to the fact that you live in cold-assed minnesota. I would deffinately go with the 195. I know that some 3.4 guys that have gone from a stock thermostat to a 180 deg one have had some issues. So be safe and go with 195.

[Gir-_-]

Ridenour, would the 180 be the one from pfyc?

I live in the middle of TX, Local Weather , Hot all the time. My 3.4L temps are 'normally' around 220F, but lately its been around 230 and slightly above, I dont know if the fans are kicking in or not. A while ago I had the coolant flushed and new radiator hoses put in, but I've been seeing my low coolant light come on randomly for about 2-3 seconds then turning off.. its weird. Aside from that problem, do you think Id be better off with a 180?

[Ridenour]

Gir, you might, but I'll warn you; from what you described, it sounds like you might be experiencing the notorious LIM leak. I would check your oil / coolant / leak areas ASAP. Look under the Throttle body, follow the LIM seal around the engine.

[Gir-_-]

Ill check into it, I've noticed that when I go up a hill, or 'randomly' the light will come on. On my way home tonight it came on once going up a hill.. after that just driving around.. it came on/off around 3-4 times...

[richtazz]

Actually, the stock t-stat in a quad-4 is 180 degrees. Unless you plan on changing it in the spring, don't put a 195 in it, as quad-4's are notorious for blowing head gaskets due to overheating.

[xeroinfinity]

Brock Landers, you liv'n in the cold ass North, I'd do the 195 deg thermo. It would suck not to hav adiquit heat when you are out in the cold. Even summers in MN arent to hot to worrie about it over heating.

Gir it does sound like you might hav the start of a leaking LIM gasket, from what you've described anyway. When mine hav went out, thats what I noticed was the coolant light coming on/off. I would keep an eye on the coolant level in the resivour, just so you dont run it dry.

The 180 deg thermostat would be OK if you live in Texas. Winters arent to cold, well in the past it hasnt got to cold, but this years weathers been screwy.

[Gir-_-]

Yea eh, today I checked the coolant to see if it were actually going down, *light comes on more frequent* and yea I was almost close to being dry as a bone. I stopped by the kwik kar close to my house whom serviced me when I got a new camshaft pully and new radiator hoses. They had to drain and all that good stuff. Since then the light started to come on a few weeks after that was done which doesnt make sense. This is my second time showing up there about the coolant. So far a quick refill does the trick and I have to go back sometime tomorrow. They've told me that they dont see any visible leaks or even drops from the car what-so-ever.. but its going somewhere. Ill keep you updated on the problem.

[xeroinfinity]

they may not hav filled it all the way up. If they hurry'd the prosses, u may of had some air in the systm.

Keep an eye on the oil, sometimes it goes there, or into the exhaust. Under the TB, the intake will leak on to the block and form a little puddle. These are the "typical" trouble areas.

[Gir-_-]

This morning it was fairly cool outside and I noticed my engine was steaming... at 210F.... Soooo Im sure theres a leak dripping onto something obviously warm/hot and evap. the coolant. Ill keep in mind those troubled areas. One thing I noticed when I went yesterday to the kwik kar is that the guy who took a quick peek at the car and filled the coolant, didnt even screw the coolant cap on correctly pssh...

EDIT: My 'Change Oil' Light is still on, I havent reset it nor actually changed the oil because it was serviced in August? I believe. But it is due soon. Once I actually start my new job and get a paycheck its just going to be poured into the car for quick tune ups... Trans serviced, fuel injectors cleaned and w/e else they have to offer.

The change oil light came on while going up a hill when we drove for 2 hrs. It being hot that day im sure thats where all the coolant went lol. Also, I feel a difference in actual performance when I have my mom riding with me in the car... slow accel lol