5vzfe normal running temperature

I don't have any sort of gauge to go by except the needle for the oil temp, but what I'm seeing on my "new to me" 99 Taco 5vzf-e (141k) is just above the half way mark. Coming from the 3vze on the 94 pickup where it ran at about 1/3 tops, sitting at 2/3 in the middle of winter is making me uneasy and making me wonder if there's an issue I need to start hunting for. Apart from the (from what I read) infamous P0450 and P0441 codes for the emissions canister causing a CEL, it performs flawlessly. Great idle and around 17MPG mixed highway and city.

If I could get some folks to confirm either that this is completely normal, or post up some pictures of their gauges for comparison, it would be greatly appreciated.

UPDATE!! Here's a pic. AND, I'm leaking coolant(dripping off the skid plate). Just noticed day before yesterday. With it being 30 degrees out and raining, haven't had a chance to locate where it's coming from exactly.

 

you dont have a temp guage in ur 99???

 

Yeah, mine is dead middle every time, all the time.

 

I do, but you have a space like "_____________" and the needle is anywhere in between without any point to truly reference spot, as say, compared to an actual temperature or "degree" amount. Best I can do is say the needles 2/3 from red.

Thanks guys, makes me feel a bit better. Already double checked fluids and any other codes, figured it should be fine but wanted to run it through here on the forums.

 

Make sure it is running the Toyota pink coolant.

 

It's got the Pikes Peak universal coolant "for all applications". Good or no good? When I bought it I put water wetter in there...

http://www.jegs.com/i/Red Line Oil/816/80204/10002/-1?CT=999

 

BAH, just found a coolant leak. Not sure where from yet. See original post for picture of temp.

 

Probably the water pump, or perhaps one of the hose clamps is getting weak.

fyi my temp is always between 190 and 200 if im running it hard.

 

I'll check it out tonight. Here's hoping for a simple hose or clamp replacement...

 

um thats not good jason, toyotas are not suppose to pass the half way mark. midway mark is 200 degress i think, so above means your running way too hot.
but who cares you're the engine swap expert

 

My 2002 was always dead middle once it warmed up and never went higher. I had over 100,000 miles and had it flushed twice and the coolant was always clean and pink.........

 

Second time having pink coolant has been made a point. Is it bad that I'm using a universal coolant?

 

My old Tacoma Supercharged and all ran religiously at 180 degrees F.

 

ya the green stuff runs hotter, but you can lower the temp but draining some coolant out and add some distilled water since whater is what actually cools the truck and the coolant is just for anti freeze and lube.

 

Doesn't matter which kind of coolant you use, it won't make more than a tiny insignificant difference on how hot the car gets. If your engines getting hot you have another problem.

 

This is not necessarily true. Look at mine below. I know it looks high, but when I run the scan on it, it comes back 190 normally. So, there is some variance on these needles. My truck goes there an never moves no matter how hard I work the damn thing. So op, do not let this worry you to much (but fix your coolant leak obviously and use pink coolant only). If you are really concerned, then get the truck scanned (borrow a scangauge, take it to a place that will do it for free, or give you local mechanic like 10 bucks to plug in the their damn diagnostic tool for 10 seconds and tell you the temp). good luck.

 

my 04 runs just past the halfway mark like the two gauges pictured. I was always worried that was too hot, but I was told that was okay.

 

This is how my '98 is

 

Same as everyone else. Needle stays at the halfway mark. Mine gets there pretty quickly too, but I imagine that as long as it doesn't get any higher everything's fine.