Is this expected temp gauge position on 2000 Taco for normal running temperature?

Hi All,

I was replacing the coolant and replaced the thermostat while I was at it. I got a Tama WV56TC-82 at NAPA (what they said was correct for 2000 2.7 liter 4x4 Tacoma) and this page says it applies: http://www.nitomainc.com/npsp3.php?masterno=90916-03120. I should have paid attention to where the temperature gauge was before, but when I was running the truck to make sure all was good, the pictured gauge position caught my eye. Just from my experience across multiple brands and models of car, having the gauge be "about 3/5 of the way from the bottom mark to the red zone" as normal operating temperature seems unusually high to me. Apparently the model of t-stat I installed is supposed to be correct, but there's a possibility it might be defective. Of course I realize that the gauge might be reading incorrectly too. But before I go ahead and swap out the thermostat to try another one, I thought I'd check with the collected wisdom here to see whether this is indeed where the temp gauge would be expected to be at normal "warmed up" engine temperature.

Thanks!
Bry

 

As long as the needle isn’t in the red, you’re good.

 

Does it move while driving?

The gauge is a good check but woefully inaccurate. 1/2 is 190 degrees and HOT is 230. The bottom half covers 190 and the top about 40. Not linear.

I will say most people report right below half as normal but for it to change a bit after a thermo. replace seems to be common. Did you boil it before hand and make sure it opened when advertised?

edit: Lots of reports have the jiggle valve placement making quite a difference in running temperature also. Didn't for me but some report it.

If your thinking of it in 1/5ths....I'm in the same part of the range just I'm resting on the bottom of that 1/5th and you're more towards the upper.

 

That's where mine sits now after replacing with a new one from Toyota. The V6 has a particular alignment for the little rattle valve. Not sure if the 4cyl is same but I understand it can affect cooling

 

That's about where mine points. Mine might be a tad higher.

 

That's where mine sits

 

That’s normal
That’s where mine sits

Don’t quote me on this, and take it for a grain of salt: but I remember reading somewhere or someone telling me the actual temp was a smidge warmer than what the gage was said, or people experienced issues just below the red line while towing? My belief (and I don’t have any sources for this) they went back into later models and pre-set the gage a smidge higher Towards the red zone to offset the issue

Again, I don’t remember where I read, saw, or was told this. So take from it what you will!

 

Thanks so much for the answers so far! I guess I'll just leave it. To answer a couple of questions - No, it doesn't change that I've seen once warmed up. It goes to this position and stays. I placed the "jiggle valve" straight up, my logic being "better to let air bubbles leak through."

 

On the V6 its its supposed to on the bottom, which goes against all logic but thats toyota says to do.

 

Edit- just reread the OP and saw you have a 2.7. I havent replaced a thermo on one and am too lazy to search the fsm right now.

That has been true on every pre 95 toyota motor I have worked on, but starting with the 5vze the jiggle valve goes at 6 oclock. I didnt believe the manual nor the forums when I first saw the 6 oclock being stated. I have a scanguage and tried it on a few 5vze and they all ran at least 10F cooler at 6. And it made it no harder to get the air pockets out.

 

I s'pose your just one of those unlucky people of the world then. I put mine straight up and it made no difference. I still have a hard time believing bottom is correct.

 

Mine sits there at 186 degrees

 

Mine sits right in the middle...a little lower than where yours is.

Of course this is all just speculation...the temp gauge on these trucks is notoriously inaccurate. You should get an OBDII reader with an app like Torque or a Scabgauge tool so that you can read your temp setting accurately.

You want to be right around 190 degrees when warm...anything up to maybe 210 is considered normal If it's a hot day with the AC on. Anything higher than that on a regular basis and you've got a problem.

Also, if the needle ever starts rising, shut the motor off right away. You don't have to be in the red to be overheating, and these trucks are very sensitive to overheating issues if they occur (head gaskets don't like it). Mine over heated once when the fan clutch failed and I shut it off well before their needle hit the red, and my coolant was already boiling at that point.

 

Mine is where yours is, maybe a tad higher.

 

Mine is exactly where your is sitting. The only thing different is my engine is the 3.4.

 

My gauge is malfunctioned and sits right at halfway mark. I actually unplugged the sensor to the factory gauge and the gauge still goes to halfway soon as I turn the key. I got a scan gauge and it runs about 188-190.

 

Somewhere between the c and h, generally in the middleish.

 

I always hated C and H gauges lol. Not accurate at all.

 

Mine has been doing that for the last two years, it has not overheated yet, i was told by a shop it was my gauge cluster, once i get some time, ill look i

 

Thats how mine sits on a v6
I replaced coolant/ thermostat
It drove me nuts kept thinking its running hot
Then bought scanguage
And after keeping an eye on it digitally
Came to conclusion that cluster guage can sit in the same spot with 40 degrees diference