Temp Gauge reading

Hello

I had my truck for over a year now and ever since I can remember the temp gauge on my truck has always seem to read a little hot. It sits just a little pass half way. I don't have a scan gauge so I can't tell exactly what the temp of the truck is, but its been sitting that way ever since I had it. Is this normal for the tacomas? I know all my other previous cars either sat at halfway or just a little below.

 

That's the way mine has sat for the past year plus - though it has sat a bit higher the past couple months while I slowly cleaned the radiator from a mud hole I had no business going into - now it appears to be back where it was. I'm running 200-204 with occasional 208 (Engine link app on the iPhone)

 

I was planning drain and refill the radiator to see if it will help lower the temp.

 

yep our gauges suck and you have to guess what they are telling you.

well my 4 cylinder 99 sat just a hair over half way and felt like it was running and cooling well but my 04 v6 sits a full needle width above half and it just seams to run warmer but maybe that's the difference in 4 vs 6 cyclinders

 

yea. I would say mine sits about a full needle above half.

 

The temp gauges suck in these trucks. And maybe I'm alone on this one but when I'm just on road driving I'm just a hair over half. But when off roading it goes below half to the cool side. Not sure why, always been like that.

 

I think that's because you aren't picking up the heat from the road so grass and dirt is a much cooler surface to drive on

 

Mine stays the same on or off. But then I haven't done any real wheeling yet. Just messing around on local dirt roads.

 

Yes it is normal. The reason the gauge is so "analog" is so people don't freak out when they see a big temp differential. If it was a actual digital gauge with changing numbers, you would see posts asking questions such as " My temp rises 10 degrees at stop lights but in normal while going down the road" What's wrong? The analog gauge "hides" the swings in cooling system temps. It's the huge temp swings that the analog gauge will show and will signify a problem. Be thankful for the simpleness.

 

I would still prefer an analog gauge in 5 degree increments of numbers instead of just a plain "take a guess" gauge

 

Mine rested dead center and is about 185-190. Use to sit just above till my radiator cracked and I got a new one

 

was it an aftermarket or oem radiator?

 

Aftermarket company but supposedly oem specs

 

Just above half. Figure it's normal for the 3.4 and this type of gauge. If the fan ain't coming on constantly you're good to go. My fan only comes on for a minute on cold start other than that its never come on. This indicates to me my truck is running in the normal range.

 

Guess my temp is fine then.

 

The thermostat may have been installed improperly. When I changed mine it was running just over 200. I rotated it so the jiggle valve or whatever was on the opposite (can't remember which way it's supposed to be now) and it ran normal at 186-192. If you haven't changed it since you bought it, I would do that and make sure the jiggle valve is in the proper position. It's possible the last time the po did it, or yourself if you have, installed it wrong maybe? That'd be my guess anyways. Wouldn't hurt to change it and see.