Wild Coolant Temperaterure Readings

[atomicbread]

Hello all,
I have been searching around the board all weekend to try to figure this out. I have a 1987 Limited with coolant temperature question. Since funds are low until payday, I have set up WinADL to get some numbers from the car. I am trying to figure out why my car is running a little hot. By a little hot, I mean ~190 idle, ~205 driving. Todays outside temps where in the 80's. In both cases, the AC is off and I have the fan wired to run on high speed. I have a 160* thermostat and Red's 93 chip in the car and I am wondering if the t-stat is not up to snuff. This morning I went out to the car to try to tell when the t-stat is opening. I plugged in WinADL and started logging data. The initial coolant temperature reading was ~95*. I am seriously doubting the coolant at the sensor was 95*, maybe 75*, but not 95. My fan kicked on at 157*, according to the RAW data from WinADL. I allowed the temperature to hit 195 at idle before I gave up. I never saw a dramatic decrease in the coolant temperature as I would expect when the t-stat opens. I have 3 questions. Is my t-stat shot? What's up with the 95* "cold" coolant reading? Is my CTS off by ~20*? Anyone have experience with WinADL and coolant temperatures? Which is accurate? RAW data or the converted SENSOR data? My EXCEL data from WinADL is at this location...

WinADL Data
Look at file Thermtest0627.xls.

Thanks for any input
Jason

 

[atomicbread]

ttt

 

[XLR8]

Your T-stat does not seem to be opening when it should. Are you sure it's a 160* and not a 195*? The coolent on my car (per Scanmaster) is close to ambiant air temp at the first startup of the day. It will gradually clime to about 170*, drop down to around 152* and try to stay at 160* - 170*. I would pull the T-stat, place it in a pan of water and heat the water on the stove to see at about what temperature the stat is openeing. Sorry I can't help with WinADL.

 

[atomicbread]

I figured the t-stat was jacked up..I have a new one in the mail. I am wondering if the CTS is also on the fritz. Or maybe a loose wire would explain an initial startup coolant temperature of 95*...

I am just going to replace the t-stat when it arrives.
Thanks

Jason