Engine stays cool, won't warm up.

[BurbankJalopy]

Hello everybody
My car will not reach operating temperature, it stays at about 120 per the gauges. The only time it'll hit 190 is when i'm sitting idle with no airflow through the radiator for several minutes. When it does finally hit 190, it stays perfectly at 190 (thermostat cycling correctly) and doesn't overheat like a bad thermostat normally causes since it's circulating hot water. Obviously I'd guess it's a stuck open or bad thermostat but I've already replaced it with a new one. I've done the boiling water test on my stove and neither of the thermostats open until quite a bit of boiling water hits the wax. I did replace the water pump gasket a while back and I remember chipping out some little gasket ear that sealed a port on the block, and that wasn't on the new gasket - maybe that is related? As far as I know it has to be the thermostat...Isn't the thermostat really the only thing that could be causing this issue? I've got the thermostat installed correctly as I've got the 'blocked' port connected to the lower radiator hose. There's no loss of water, overflow, bubbles, etc. I don't have a thermometer to verify how accurate the gauge is, but it seems correct based on the fact that it sometimes will reach 190 and not go any higher than that (and it's not overheating when it reads 190) Thanks

[Danno]

wouldn't be the first time that a new thermostat was bad straight from the package. That's my vote.

[TulsaSpider]

Hmmm and I thought this was just normal. The only time mine hits 190 is in traffic.

[rasouth]

Is your heater vent open? That can draw some heat away from the motor.

[So Cal Mark]

the first step is to verify the engine temperature, the stock sending units and gauges can be faulty

[TulsaSpider]

Mine hit's 190 then the fan kicks on, but only sitting in traffic. It has been that way since I got it. I replaced the Tstat and it still did it...

[FatherFiat]

Check your coolant level- make sure you don't have an air bubble in your system. If there is no coolant reaching the thermostat, it will read low, even though the engine may be truly hot, since air does not conduct heat as well as coolant does.
Also, you said that BOTH termostats were opening. Are you running TWO thermostats? If you have the "inhose" thermostat, you should NOT have one at the top/front of the head. If so, remove the "conventional" thermostat and refill with coolant.
Normal temp on my '78 (new engine) runs right at 190 on the gage, but gages are not especially accurate. The important thing is to know what is normal for your car. But be sure it is TOTALLY FULL of coolant.