I recently noticed my '95 7.3 is only halfway up to temp and staying there. I just went thru two thermostats (195 & 210). the truck is running fine but I cant figure out why it wont get up to temp, and I know the gauge is working

 

Not sure I know what you mean by "only halfway up to temp" unless you mean the stock temp guage is reading around the "R" or "M" in "NORMAL". Is that what you mean? If that is the situation, that sounds about right for a 195* T-Stat.

I installed a 203* T-Stat in my '97 and the stock temp guage now reads in the "M" to "A" region. All I can think of is you have an air bubble in the system that hasn't purged itself yet, or maybe the T-Stat isn't seating properly allowing too much coolant to bypass.

For the '97s, there were different T-Stats used; short-stem and long-stem. Mine is a long-stem.

 

It usually stays at the N or O but today it went all the way up to the M and A, so I purged it again, it had a little bit of air, so now it sits at the R mostly. its got a 210* stat now, damn gauges!! gimme numbers not letters!!

 

I agree. I'd love to see a "Guage Package" offered by the factory. Where did you find a 210* T-Stat? Part number? Cost?

I'm loving the 203* T-Stat, but am willing to look around.

Sounds like you're making progress. I was going to suggest that maybe the T-Stat was partially stuck open, but if purging is making a difference, I'd say you're on the right track. Any air still in the system should get purged while you're driving.

 

mine stays between the n and o

 

Maybe the sender? I changed my sender and tstat at the same time and mine works fine. Before that it wouldn't even get into the NORMAL range.

 

Get a real gauge and go from there...

IMHO Hotter coolant and hotter oil is not a good thing. Stick with the factory 195* stat...

 

engine is 1995, which calls for a 205*