I guess I should say temp guage....
ever since I had the new water pump put in. I've installed a new radiator since then also. What happens is that I start the truck cold and let it warm up about 5 minutes or so. I start out on my journey and the heat guage rises (of course) but what's different is that the reading on the guage goes way up and then the thermostat opens and the guage falls down to where it should be. What's strange about this is that since owning the truck new it didn't do that before. It would just rise to the operating temp and (from my memory) it didn't make that dramatic rise before the thermostat opens. Also it seems to run a notch warmer according to the temp guage which leads me to believe that this "problem" is probably a new/different thermostat than what was in the truck before?? The radiator was replaced because of scale buildup and cleaning it is just about the same price as replacing it. The truck doesn't overheat. I guess I'm just not used to that wondering temp guage....
Comments?? Thanks! Chuck

 

So you replaced the factory thermostat as well then? If so I think thats why you would see some funny reading on the gauge. Some thermostat tend to make the gauge fluctuate alot.

 

chuxtruk,

my gauge did the same thing after changing my T-stat. for the first two years of owning this truck my temps never jumped past the first notch, exept when pulling my jeep.

well on my move from Washington state, to florida, my temp gauge was climing to the 2nd notch and a little past. so in Casper WY. i put a new T-stat in. then my gauge ran at the 2nd notch.

well i thougth this was a problem. but according to the the Service Manual the gauge is suppost to sit at the 2nd notch for ideal operating temps.

it turned out for 2 years i had a cracked t-stat in my ty truck, not letting it get up to the proper operating temp. and when running at a good 180* F. your MPG will be better. at least mine did.

i dont think you have any thing to worry about.

bob.