lowest coolant temperature when warmed up?

Recently replaced the '02's thermostat with an OEM unit and changed the coolant. When the engine is fully warmed up in an ambient temperature of 40F and at highway speed, the coolant temperature will bottom out at about 167F and hold steady there. Given that the thermostat's opening temperature range is 176-183F, that 167 steady state temperature strikes me as a little low. Wondering if I got a dud thermostat.

What's the lowest the coolant temperature gets on the 6th gen when the engine is fully warmed up, assuming the cooling system is working properly?

 

Coolant temps can vary widely depending on where the sensor is located. My 5th gen is running @ 168 degrees F at an ambient air temp of 68 degrees F at speed. If the sensor is located on the inlet side of the engine, it will show the cooled temp of the coolant. If on the outlet side of the engine, it could be well into the 200s F.

Unless your fuel mileage is down considerably, indicating you're running in closed loop (cold) mode, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Does anyone know where the sensor is located on these models?

 

Your readings are consistant with my bike.

 

I replaced my thermostat in March this year. My VFR is an 02 and I used an OEM part. It runs about 167 degrees on highway at 50 F

 

Most helpful, thanks everyone!

 

Riding home tonight in 40F (5C), the coolant temperature bottomed out at highway speed at 167F as usual. Then it started raining and the coolant temperature fell to about 151F. Seems even with the thermostat closed, the bike can cool down too much, perhaps due to the oil cooler.

 

I rode out to Fontana today in mid sixties temps and I was running in the 170 to 180 range, up to 200ish in traffic. Tonight riding home an mid 50;s I was at 167 as well.

 

I was just thinking of posting this same question, then saw you already asked it!

 

Mine read anywhere from 185 to low as 132deg F on the downhill section in 55deg Amb temp. I think mine is done for, no way that is correct.

 

That's right ! In ambient temps below 40 F, i tape over the oil cooler, only way to get it into the proper range of 180-195F.