Is it normal for the thermostat not to open when driving around town for 40-45 mins?? Everyday I take this steep road going uphill in 4th gear which I think should put enough load for the thermostat to open up. The lower rad. hose is cold after the drive and my temp gauge is at normal temp....... I do hear the fan turn on when im stuck in freeway traffic for about 1 hr.......time for a new thermostat???

 

If your temp guage is accurate and operating normally then I would say everything is fine. When the fan comes on that usually means the thermo opened. Maybe its opening and you just dont know it? Try letting it idle for awhile (about 10-15 min) it should open up. If not get a new thermo.

 

times like that when I wish I had one of those laser digital thermometers.