For what it is worth, with your mileage, you radiator is at least partially restricted from top to bottom because of the very thin veins and calcium build up.
Between the radiator and your after market cooling fan, you are slowly killing your engine. Once you hit the 230 range you are in trouble.
I would suggest you replace the radiator, t/stat, find a good used factory fan and throw in a bottle of Water

 

The aftermarket fan is the same diameter as the old, could the cfm really be that different? It's time to replace the radiator anyway, had a pinhole leak I temporary fixed with jb weld. The stat is the new soft spring unit, it runs 186-194deg in 90 deg heat on the open road . It just keeps creeping up as soon as you sit at idle.

 

Where is the best place to buy a new radiator? AB has them for around $315 for whatever brand they carry.

 

They sell new radiators on ebay for $159 with lifetime warranty, not sure if those are junk or not though.

 

Is it unbecoming to brag about my 183.8/194 idle temps on my original T-stat?

 

Sounds like your stat is stuck open.

 

Just ordered a new radiator (hella behr brand) from Lucky8 today. $210 shipped.

 

thanks, that sounds like a good deal.

 

^^agree^^

 

I don't have a temperature issue - relatively new T-stat, water pump, fan, etc. Monitor occasionally with an aftermarket interface and iPhone and temp never exceeds 210 - I guess this is O.K. for a southern summer.

Question - are these lower temp thermostats direct replacements for OEM unit? I don't want to fix something that's not broken, but if this is an easy direct swap, why not?

DRW