328 Temperature too low?

I'm pretty sure the temp in my 328 is running too low, but I wanted to confirm. Since it has been very cool on this trip the temperature doesn't raise much about 140. When idle the temp will rise to 190 or so but stay steady. I'm guessing that the temperature should be around 180 - 190 during normal driving but mine is definitely low.

My first guess is thermostat, but since it will go to 190 and stay steady (when not moving) it seems as if the thermostat is operating as intended. Thoughts?

Gene

P.S. Your aren't going to tell me to put cardboard in front of the radiators are you?

 

Seems a bit low. Even when driving at in the upper 30's, my 308 and 328 would never drop below 160 on the freeway...and then rise up in city driving. Seems like your thermostat may be a little 'lazy'.

 

It sounds as if you could have a stuck-open (or removed) thermostat. It would behave as you described. For best engine performance it should operate in the 190 F area .. i.e., the thermostat and electric fan settings.

 

When crusing down the highway 65mph my 89 328 temp is about 160F. In traffic or at idle goes to 190F - 195F enough to kick the fans on.

 

All 3 308's and both 328's I have owned read kind of low in cold weather. I don't know why, but I think it is normal.

Dave

 

Isn't oil temp the most important thing here? My '89 328 generally runs all year in the 160-190 range(temporate here in SB) and generally the only time the fan's operate is pulling into the garage after a slow down for 10 minutes. 1 year old thermostat and waterpump rebuild. I would think that as long as oil temp is in the normal range all is good, correct?

Jeff