Ive had a 180 t-stat and intense PCM for a while and it would always stay around 180 degrees now that I got my exhaust done it stays closer to 200 degrees on my temp gauge
any ideas?

Hook it up to a scanner and find out what the real temp is. The mechanical gauge is almost always innacurate.

well even so if the gauge is inaccurate its probably consistant stil. I'm wonder what would cause the temperature rise?


I dont have a scan tool :(

You should look into a scan tool.
There should have been no icrease in engine temp with improved exhaust work. With the car breathing better the engine should be working less.
You could be running lean which would mean hotter. Not sure how a lean condition could be blamed on exhaust mods though?

You have two coolant sensors. One sends a signal to the gauge, the other to the PCM. It'* possible that your new exhaust is pushing ambient operating engine bay temps higher and your sending unit for the gauge is being saturated from the OUTSIDE, giving a false reading.

Try insulating that sensor so it'* reading the coolant/LIM rather than being influenced by engine bay heat.

where are the two located?

Both are in the LIM. Near the TB. One on the end right under the TB, and one directly behind the TB in the LIM.