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My understanding:
A properly working thermostat will not be full open during normal operation.
In a properly operating car, the thermostat stays closed until the coolant approaches desired temp, then modulates more open/more closed to maintain that desired temp. Coolant only goes above the rated temp of the thermostat if you are working the engine "too" hard or something is wrong with the cooling system.
I did a little more reading. You are correct. A thermostat starts to open at it's rated temp, then continues to open as the engine heats up. At a certain temp it does fully open. That temp is harder to determine. In between these temps, it does modulate. So I can assume if you use a 180* thermostat in a 220* car, it will start to open at a 180* and then be fully open at some point. Normally in about 20*
I have a 2014 Z51 3LT. After reading this thread, I tried to get to the screen showing the digital temps. I could not get there. I am in Touring mode in center console. When I go to the selector for the dash display, I do not have an option for Touring or Perf. I have Info, Phone, Nav, Audio and ?. I am normally in INFO mode where I get Trip A and B, Miles to empty with V4/V8, Oil change %, Tire pressures and one more.
How do I get the digital gauges? Is this programmed in the Infotainment System (center screen)?
Ken
I have a 2014 Z51 3LT. After reading this thread, I tried to get to the screen showing the digital temps. I could not get there. I am in Touring mode in center console. When I go to the selector for the dash display, I do not have an option for Touring or Perf. I have Info, Phone, Nav, Audio and ?. I am normally in INFO mode where I get Trip A and B, Miles to empty with V4/V8, Oil change %, Tire pressures and one more.
How do I get the digital gauges? Is this programmed in the Infotainment System (center screen)?
Ken
Not sure why you don't have an option for Performance showing. I have what appears to be the same model ('14, 3LT). Mine lists the perf(ormance) option second , just after INFO (Info / Perf / Phone / Nav / Settings ). When set with the Tour gauge & Perf,
this is what I get:
I gave up using the analog coolant temp gauge. As it only displays 220° F (when fully up to temp), It really doesn't serve any function.
I still have the same issue regarding the analog reading vs. the digital reading. My analog gauge will always read 220°F. Once it's up to temp., that is where it stays.
The digital gauge displays a live reading. I've changed the thermostat and ECT sensor, but they made no difference (on the analog reading). I've had various people mention that the analog gauge is connected to the fan operation (which I'm not buying). Short of having a tuner do a deep dive on this, I'll just do a periodic check with the digital reading.
The issue. Your car is very good at maintaining a constant temp because it has a thermostat. The "ENGINE" temp is not coolant temp, the "OIL" temp isn't coolant temp. I have a 2014 3LT. I am very happy when I see the coolant gauge temp stabilize at 220*. The "ENGINE" temp is a magic number that nobody knows, for sure, where it comes from. As long as these temps are stable, don't make your head explode, it's the nature of the 2014.
The issue. Your car is very good at maintaining a constant temp because it has a thermostat. The "ENGINE" temp is not coolant temp, the "OIL" temp isn't coolant temp. I have a 2014 3LT. I am very happy when I see the coolant gauge temp stabilize at 220*. The "ENGINE" temp is a magic number that nobody knows, for sure, where it comes from. As long as these temps are stable, don't make your head explode, it's the nature of the 2014.
I'm pretty sure that the analog gauge gets its reading from the ECT sensor. When I changed mine out, I did not correctly reconnection it. When I took it out for a test drive, I had no reading on the gauge. When I got back and correctly connected the plug, it did start reading.
Again, to 220°. Car's will not run a consistent coolant temp. At best, it will run in a tight range (mine: digitally showing 188°-194° freeway, 198°-201° around town). This is shown when viewing the digital gauge, with the analog gauge reading only 220°.
I can't accept anyone's answer on "Engine" temp. When I first bought mine (Jan/2025), after the first week, the analog gauge went from reading 220°, to jumping up to 250° (in about 10 seconds). It would then drop back to 220°. It did this cycle for a week or so.
At the time, I did know how to access the digital gauge. After I changed the ECT sensor & thermostat, it started reading consistently 220°. Between the coolant & oil temp, what purpose does "Engine" temp provide? The only thing that really bothers me, is that no one has been able to address this.
When I first got into this question, I tried to find another temp sensor, there isn't another sensor. I also compared oil temp and coolant temp to see if "engine" temp was a combination of the two, no luck. The only thing I could come up with, is the "engine" temp is adjusted from the ECU. I would also watch as each temp would increase. Seems the engineers came up with, what they thought was relevant. The later year cars were changed. It's only us 2014 owners that have to ponder, what the hell they were thinking.
First year 'bugs' I guess. In its current format, the analog gauge is a waste. If it were to vary with engine conditions or ambient temps, or driving styles, I could maybe see some value it that. But mine (others too?) nary varies from its 220°F reading. Glad to at least have the digital reading to refer to when curious.
