Driving with thermostat stuck open

Not really. It might slobber a bit more. Any moisture in the crankcase doesn't get boiled out. That is the biggest problem, but this is a slow and long process so you should be ok.

 

I never had a prob that I know of running cooler, but runner hotter than it should has caused me problems.

 

You can wait it is not stuck open. If it was it would be running a lot cooler than that.. It would cool right off coming to a stop. It still needs to be replaced though it won't fix itself.

 

No big deal short term.

There's obviously a reason for thermostats, but running hot would be more of an immediate concern.

 

Get a lazer temp gun and check actual engine temp your gauge could be off

 

if the stat is open it wont be a problem this time of the year. just replace it before the weather get cold again. otherwise you will have next to no heat. Truck will still run fine but will take longer to reach a good running temp. unless you have a truck that the computer controls everything. then the computer my create problems.

 

Gunner when I replaced my thermostats on my acert cause mine was not keeping warm, especially in the winter where I had to button up the front, what I found was the rubber seal on the thermostats itself was totally disintegrated allowing coolant to pass through all the time. My engine only had 400,000 miles on it at the time when I had to replace them. I'm willing to bet this is what's wrong with yours. It isn't to bad of a job to do just take your time. Good luck.

 

To check it start with cold engine. Start it up and let it warm up. If the upper hose gets warm or hot at all before 190 your thermostats are bad and need to be changed. The rad is supposed to be sealed off from engine untill thermostat opens. That upper pipe will be cool and soon as thermostat opens in 30sec you won't want to touch it anymore.