Well, after running around with no thermostat for a while, I found that it would be better to go with a 160 to promote better coolant flow and a more consistent engine temperature.

Here's my problem:

I turn the car on, it warms up to just over the quarter mark. Then it sits there for a while (I'm assuming as the thermostat opens up and coolant from the radiator starts going through), and then the temp gauge proceeds to rise again.

I have manual fan switch, and even if I leave it on all the time the temp gauge will never go under the quarter mark- same for cruising on the highway with air being forced through the radiator. If I let the temp go up to halfway or so and turn on the fans, the temp gauge will slowly make its way back down.

Am I correct in assuming that my temp sensor (for the gauge) is about a quarter off or so?

Would replacing it do any good, or could the problem be with the gauge itself (it seems they get quirky when they get older; my voltage and oil press gauges like to jump around sometimes).

Anyway, does anyone know at what temp that the ecm will turn on the check gauges light? I am thinking that if my gauges are off it would be a good reason why my fans don't turn on by themselves.

Any info is appreciated.

 

That actually sounds fine. Most cars sit at the quater mark with a 160 stat and the fans staying on. Just because you have a 160 stat doesnt mean it is going to sit right at 160. Mine normally sits at 170-180. And if I let mine sit without fans it will get up to the half way mark or a little more. Those symptons you ratteld off seam perfectly normal and I would say there is nothing to worry about and your guage is more than likely reading accurate!

 

Yes, but mine will get up to the 3/4 mark (or more if I let it) if I don't hit the fan switch. It's quite annoying. I've been trying to track this thing down for a while and was trying to figure out whether to rule this out.

When I had my V6 Camaro the gauge seemed to like the quarter mark a lot. In fact, the highest I ever got it to go was after a nice cruise at 118 mph... just under the half mark - btw, stock thermostat and stock fan on temps.

 

The air dam that sits under the radiator may be cracked or broken - you may want to check that out because that is what feeds your radiator with air