vp ute running cold

[Huntington]

Trying to suss out why a VP V6 ute would be running cold, it has all the symptoms of a thermostat stuck open, but after taking it for a run today, the top radiator pipe felt hot, although still a touch soft so not alot of pressure. So I'm up in the air about wether or not it is the thermostat.

Symptoms
Temp gauge doesnt get above 1/8 in town, pretty much on zero on the highway.
Car heater takes ages to get anything above freezing, and only warms enough to just take the chill of the air.
After a 600km trip I could touch the radiator cap and engine block and both were luke warm.

Where to start? for the relative low price of the thermostat, should I just replace it to rule it out? i believe it is fairly easy in this model, (unlike the bastard vn s1)

The car does drive fine, it doesnt struggle or stall, but I think the engine temp is effecting the heater temp. (or the heater is shagged)

[Brett_jjj]

Just replace the thermostat,they are cheap as ,and they dont last forever and should be changed every couple of years or thereabouts.If you dont use quality coolant ,it should probably be changed more often.

[savage1987]

^ +1. New thermostat, use a factory temperature one not some gay colder one, and fresh coolant. Flush your motor out with a garden hose while you're at it

[Huntington]

So new thermostat, full flush out of the cooling system, since one hose was off figured I mights as well. Old thermostat was stuck open, was worried I may find some leaks in the heating system since its a new car and I wasnt sure how it would go being flushed, but it all turned out great, heater is now nice and warm, and the car seems to be just that little bit more responsive to drive now that it gets up to temp. Very easy job, onto the next one one the list now