2008 5.3 Engine Temp

[motoman18]

I was wondering why most new trucks are running hotter temps (210)? If there is any benefit to a lower thermostat or will that throw off all the other sensors/settings? Will a tuner or chip have any benefit from a lower temp? Thanks.

[txab]

If you opt for a lower temp 'stat, you will need to have your truck re-tuned for the change. There are plenty of people with custom tunes still running the stock 195 stat. with no problems or loss of performance

[vettelovralexand]

My truck sits right at the 210 on the gauge, however, monitoring the coolant temperature today on my drive it was showing anywhere from 91 C to 96 C. This is basically from about 195 to 205 and most of the time it was right at the 91 C mark. I wouldn't believe the dummy dash gauge they give you. They just have the needle sit in the middle just like people want to see.

[jro909]

the guages are just ball park figures, to let you know hey its not overheating or hey theirs oil pressure..the speedo isen't even accurate really lol

[Z45]

Changing your thermostat for a different one is a waste of money. GM designed the motor to run in a certain temperature range, for best performance. By changing your thermostat, you’re just making the motor take longer to reach the temperature it was designed to run at. A colder engine is more prone to creating more condensation, which mixes with oil, which then creates acids that attack metal on the internal parts. Also, you will see an increased amount of sludge. Fuel won't be able to burn off either. Colder running engines are less efficient.