If bottom hose to stat never warms up you might think that radiator is restricted with gunk, and water flow is so slow that it cools way off. It should warm up some as truck warms up. Radiator should be about same temp top to bottom, like within 10-20 degrees, unless bottom tubes are plugged with gunk (then they will be much colder). Of course, if you are in Whitefish MT, conditions could be different. A clogged up $250 radiator can cook an engine.

 

ha now you got me thinking again.. if I knew for sure whther these dam gauges were accurate.. it would make things a whole lot easier

 

The gauges are not accurate, if your truck has an OBDII port, a scanner or an ultra gauge will tell you a lot more.

 

Drove to/from show last night NO PROBLEMS!!! WOO HOO! Old stat was JUNK! It was all chipped on top hose inlet and looked fairly gross inside! Got bottom hose to warm up as well! Fingers crossed this may be all it took! Gonna bleed it AGAIN in a few!!! Thanks everyone!

 

Dexcool is what cause the t/stat to chip up. Hope you got rid of that and went green. Also, Dexcool will eat up the coolant pressure cap so replace it also.