My Water Temperature readings; Would you consider a lower temp. thermostat?

[meliketoball]

Hey guys, I have a 2g GST all stock and my friend let me use his scan tool that also can read water temp, Air Intake temp, and much more.

As I hooked it up to the OBD port and drove around in the car for a few days, I finally knew what my temperature my car is running at; I am running on the street 209-213 degrees and on the freeway, 213-218 and the most it has been was 222-234 degrees on the freeway; which was super long distance.

I know for sure that 222-234 degrees is pretty high and as I was searching, I saw that people put in 170 to 190 degree thermostats.

My radiator is only around 400 miles new, the fluid, gaskets and stock thermostat radiator is also a few hundred miles new, less then 1k miles.

I believe the stock one I bought at my local auto parts store is a 215 degree thermostat.

For a stock car or any car, would you guys recommend me to pop a 170, 180 or even a 190 degree thermostat?

Let me know guys! And thanks for reading!

 

[Defiant]

A thermostat keeps the engine temperature up to its rating. The radiator cools the engine's coolant.
Your temperatures are in the normal operating range. I doubt you could find a 215° thermostat.

Put in a stock 190° thermostat. Don't bother with the "Fail Safe" crap, just get one from the Mitsubishi or Chrysler dealer. Make sure you install the bleeder hole at the top.

 

[jb2zero0six5]

A thermostat "opens" around it's operating temperature (190 degree stock) then allowing the coolant to fully circulate the radiator. It closes when the temp falls below 190. Since you live in a warmer climate, a cooler operating thermostat would be wouldn't hurt. Here in MN, winters get cold and I want that high 200-215 degree range for heat.

 

[meliketoball]

Sorry, I took off my t-stat that was giving me thoes above readings and it was a 180 degree one. I bought another from autozone and was a 180 degree as well. I put it in, filled the coolant and took it for a freeway cruise.

Water Temp dropped:

On the freeway: used to be 213-222 degrees; now its 191-202 degrees.

On the street: used to be 209-218; now its 202-213 degrees

Idle: used to be around 209-218 degrees and now its around 195-209 degrees.

I think the one that used to be in my car was a POS defected one. Maybe if things get really hot; I'll try a low 170 degree t-stat.

Gracias Defiant sir.