Engine coolant temps

I'm just sorta curious, I got my '08 Taco in March and soon thereafter got a ScanGaugeII for it. One of the items I monitor is water temperature. I noticed this summer that mine (a 2.7L 4 cyl) usually ran at 198 or 199F all the time, whether I had AC running or not, regardless of how warm the outside air was, how fast I was going, how much of a load I was hauling, etc. I realize that a thermostat regulates water temp but this is a little bit higher than my other vehicles run, they seem typically to be about 10 degrees cooler. What is considered normal?

 

Thats pretty warm. Considering my 98 2.4L runs 181deg in the heat of the summer. Are the coolant levels good?

 

Levels look to be okay. I thought it was a little warm too, but the fact that it doesn't vary much seemed like a positive.

 

Maybe the newer models run warmer? Someone with your year will chime in

 

I used to use Water Wetter in my Motorcycle... not sure if it's good to use in Tacos or not...

 

Water Wetter and Engine Ice are great products for lowering coolant temps. Mostly marketed towards the motorcycle community though.

 

You use 'em in your Taco at all?

 

Nope, no overheating problems or hot temps. Plus the stuff is a little spendy, since im trying to save up for the TURBO!!!!

 

What turbo? Only turbo I know of is an STS.... They wanted me to call for specifics... but I never did. What is that gonna run you?

 

T3/T4 intercooled. Going to run about 6psi with minimal fuel mods. Its going to be a custom project.

 

OR look around a bit and find a thermostat like this one:
http://www.google.com/products?clie...a=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

It should open earlier and cool the engine earlier. Water Wetter is also any option if you are that worried about it.

 

I wouldn't worry about it - as long as it's consistant (check fluids, etc).

I have an 07 4.0L and the highest temp I've got ever is 184.

What's normal? I don't think there's anything that's considered 'normal' - Each and every vehicle will be different.

You think your truck is running hot? On our corvette - the cooling fans don't even come on until the temp reaches 225. And I've seen the temps on that thing reach up to 300+ during regular driving in summer.

 

Cool - Apparently they make on here too: http://www.ststurbo.com/toyota_tacoma
Dunno how much it costs....

 

Relax. I'm getting the same range in temp from my scanguage as well. You're normal.

Mine runs 197-199 as well.

I believe the manufacturers do this because the tolerances are much closer and the added heat frees up the motor to take advantage of it. As an added measure, I'll religiously allow the motor to warm-up for 1.5 minutes before I put any load on it....and then I'll drive easy until the temp comes up to the 170 mark on the scanguage. My father, on the other hand, is of the type that he'll start and go......I can just hear the engine screaming at him that "I'm dry, jeeze....lemme get a splash of lube oil first for crying out loud"