What should I expect my '06 6spd to run at for engine temp? Googling around shows a 170° thermostat is "factory," but the engine consistently sits at 180-184°. These numbers are from an ELM327 Wifi Dongle and OBD Fusion.

For reference, my 2012 MDX supposedly also has a 170° Tstat, and it consistently reads 171-174°.

Any input? My search didn't turn much up, but I did stop digging after about 3 minutes.

No problems really, other than I've noticed my '06 has a greater propensity to "rattle" (engine knock) before the ECM catches it than my '12 MDX does. It's mild in any case, so this is more of a curiosity than anything.

 

Thermostat temperature is just the temperature the tstat has to reach before it opens up fully.

It doesn't mean the car will sit around that temperature when at full operating temperature...

I have seen mine around 180-190 and when I'm at idle for awhile after a long drive it'll peak near 200-210.

 

with my torque pro app im right around 180-190 average and 210-215 peak at idle especially during warmer weather. seems high to me.

 

Mine is dead on at 186° in motion, but it'll reach the low 200°'s in stop and go traffic.

 

Tstat temp value is the opening temp, not the full open temp, at least to my knowledge. The Tstat typically supplies the "floor" for temperature, not the max.

It just seems curious to me that even under ideal cooling conditions- light throttle, no AC, low/moderate temps (50°), and 180° is still the absolute floor that I see. The MDX has a 170° Tstat, and its floor is at 170°. My old Z28 has a 195° Tstat, and under most loads, that's where it runs, +/- a few.

From the responses though, this appears to be typical for our cars.

 

Not a TL but I've been in a few c5 vettes and the digital coolant display would normally read 215-230. Seems pretty high but since it was more than 1 that I witnessed it in, I assume it's normal for those cars.

 

heh, talk about oil temps. if you guys ever drive a 370z, you'll reach 240+ after a 1 quick 0-100. and afterwards it'll go in limp mode.

the TL runs great, dont wry about it

 

My 760 runs at 105C along with a other cars like corvettes and such. The higher the engine temp by 10C, you usually gain .1MPG from BMW research on their motors.

Honestly, 90C is the best, my 760 had so many rubber and plastic parts fail from the heat of the engine bay.