Originally Posted by Michael M. Koch

I found this thread while researching my own "too cold" oddities. This week I had to take the rover on a 650 mile round trip, and the temp (according to ultragauge) stayed around 160 most of the trip. Air intake temps were between 41 & 51, but I was under the impression it wouldn't make that big of a difference. (During hotter weather it would easily get up to 200 on the highway.) At one point I got it down to 120, (but that was coasting down a mountain,) and it never went above 180. Which, coincidentally, is the thermostat I have. Also, it never went into open loop, except for a second or two occasionally that I noticed.
I did remove one of the electric fans that wasn't working. My logic being that I'd replace it once the weather warms up, and what's the point of obstructing part of the radiator in the meantime?
From what I gather, there's no harm done to the engine by its running cold, with the exception of even worse gas mileage. But I'm really curious as to why, all of a sudden, it decided to go from borderline meltdown to colder than normal?

Originally Posted by TOM R

i have noticed that my heat is not so great and that is reflected by the temp gauge (factory) only going up about 1/4 of the way up though it does get there fast, i did the stat within the last year or so with a oem temp ( according to the parts store computer)

Originally Posted by Spike555

Running down the highway on a long trip with the engine running to cold will only reduce your MPG.
Running around town, starting/shutting the engine off will cause excessive water to build up inside the engine, rot out the exhaust, never let it go closed loop, etc.