RPM and Temp
Short answer: For highway cruising, keep it below about 3300–3500 RPM to limit engine wear and save fuel (a taller tire, a different rear-axle ratio, or an overdrive transmission all lower cruise RPM). A normal operating temperature is roughly 180–205°F — even 210° is fine climbing a grade or sitting in August traffic.
A thermostat stuck open won’t let the engine warm up (premature cylinder wear); stuck shut overheats quickly. A 160–180° thermostat suits summer, 190° for winter. The factory temp gauge was never very accurate (and worse with age) — add a mechanical aftermarket gauge, even temporarily, to know the real temperature.
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
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