Quote Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch View Post
If you had a bad head gasket, you'd see white smoke out the tail pipe and be losing coolant real fast. 3800's rarely pop a head gasket, you really have to want to it. Like over heat it many times and just run it forever at over 240-250º.

A failing water pump wouldn't put the coolant at 180º either, it would stay much higher when it's not moving because the air flow over the radiator would be cooling it off.


Just from being around these cars for so long and knowing how many other GM vehicle work, if the temp stays under 200-210 all the time there is nothing I worry about or even care about. Even my 2012 silverado, once warm it says 210 on the gauge and never moves. Yet when I have my tuner hooked up it running at 190-195 like the thermostat is rated for.
Thank you sir,
It looks like I'm newer than you with them and i'm still in the phase of worrying about the bouncing gauge or the temp being too low.
I read somewhere that running at a lower temp (if my gauge is accurate) will burn rich, low milage, not good for engine long term. That's why i'm investigating.