5.3L Running Around 185 degrees after thermostat replacement

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blazen

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just to add to my experience, just bought a 2004 5.3L 4x4 sierra and the temp gauge sits at 210 or just below it and doesn't really move from there. Soon after I replaced the water pump and thermostat with an 187F and replaced the clutch fan with an single elec. fan while keeping the stock oem 28.5in radiator and no fan shroud, other than the the elec. fan shroud. My aftermarket fan controller runs 20 degree cooler since its a radiator temp probe. so I have it set to kick on at 180F which the PCM obd2 reader reads at 200F. Now i never did check what the PCM temp was prior to the elec fan mod or new water pump/thermostat. As of right now my temp gauge stays at or just below 210 even tho the PCM reads 212F. the single elec fan is constantly running and doesnt cool it off enough to turn off when idling but as soon as I drive temps drop to 197-205F and 212F at idle. Is this good operating temperature for a single elec. fan?
 

swathdiver

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just to add to my experience, just bought a 2004 5.3L 4x4 sierra and the temp gauge sits at 210 or just below it and doesn't really move from there. Soon after I replaced the water pump and thermostat with an 187F and replaced the clutch fan with an single elec. fan while keeping the stock oem 28.5in radiator and no fan shroud, other than the the elec. fan shroud. My aftermarket fan controller runs 20 degree cooler since its a radiator temp probe. so I have it set to kick on at 180F which the PCM obd2 reader reads at 200F. Now i never did check what the PCM temp was prior to the elec fan mod or new water pump/thermostat. As of right now my temp gauge stays at or just below 210 even tho the PCM reads 212F. the single elec fan is constantly running and doesnt cool it off enough to turn off when idling but as soon as I drive temps drop to 197-205F and 212F at idle. Is this good operating temperature for a single elec. fan?
The dashboard temperature gauge is intentionally dampened not to move much once at temp so folks don't get alarmed with the needle moving around as they drive.
 

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