For some weird reason my temp gauge always reads cold but if i drive for a while and shut the car off and get back in a few mins. later the temp will be like 1/4 to 1/2 way up, almost normal. It seems as if it is exactly backwards, i looked at the temp sensor, which i had replaced in july and its in normal which is the only way it fits, theres no frayed wires or tape or anything. It has been like this for a while could the sensor already be bad? i have just been keeping an eye on my oil temp for now.

On another note i switched to royal purple 5w-30 from syntec and my car feels peppier with a bit more torque off the line and the turbo seems to spool faster and i can actually hear it now. I know some people believe its all placebo effect but my butt dyno tells me different. and for 6 dollars more a change i can handle it. I wanna put 75-90 royal p in the tranny but i hear horror stories about shavings getting loose and kill your trans. Should i do any kind of flush first or just leave it alone? First gear is pretty notchy and it gets kinda annoying.
thanks in advance

 

have you tried changing the temp sensor? Usually thats what goes out first. Sorry can't answer your second question.

 

check the sensor not the guage

 

I never checked the gauge, the sensor is shiny as new and is only a few months old. i guess ill just throw a new one in and see.

 

Your thermostate may be stuck open. That will keep the engine too cold when driving, but when you shut it off the coolant stops flowing and will heat up from the hot engine.

Your butt dyno is most likly broken.

 

Oil isnt going to cause any noticeable differences in power unless you had low level before changing. I sometimes notice a quieter and smoother running engine after a due oil change, but thats about it. My guess would be a stuck thermostat too. As far as the tranny fluid, if you have Tip, ONLY use the oem Pentosin stuff. If not tip, you have many options including full synthetic.

 

i thought the same thing about the thermostat but my mechanic said a sign of that would be poor gas milage and im still getting 30+. I heard its tricky to get to also. My but dyno is fine, 2 other people noticed the same thing. Im only saying that it feels like it spools up quicker making it accellerate a bit quicker and smoother off the line, theres also close to zero valve tick now.