Thread: Engine temp question

I am still learning about my 3800 and 99, but the question is, does your temp gauge read like mine?

I put in a new T-stat, hoses, coolant and bled everything. So I am trying to figure out if this is normal or not.

The gauge starts at 160 of course, like we all know. Mine then climbs a little higher and ends up in the range between 160 and 210.

It has plenty of heat and the coolant bottle is full too.

It just does not climb very high, but when you see the gauge starts at 160, and 190 is normal temp, it may be correct. I also have never had it in on a hot day, since I bought it a couple of months ago and it sat, as I worked on it.

Could somone verify or take a pic of their car at normal temp?

Thanks,

Ok thanks guys! Mine seems just fine and normal.

OK now I discovered the gauge was not normal, I think. I looked at ECT with my scanner and it reads normal, 180, 190, 210 if at idle for awhile.

I repalced the ECT sensor and it is about 30 degrees off! The guage now gets close to hot at 200 degress per the scanner. Now I think I got a bad, new ECT. The guy forgot to charge me for it, so I will just go get a GM sensor. I have heard horror stories of bad after-market sensors.