I just finished my 6-port cleanup and have put the engine back together and fired it up. Man, does it smoke at first!
But my temp. gauge is now showing about half way when before it ran at only 1/4. I did put in a new thermostat, but would this cause it to run hotter??? It is a 190 degree stant model. Any suggestions??? Could it be an air pocket in the cooling system???
Everything else I left the same including the air pump except that I removed the air tube to the cat and plugged off the lines.
On a good note, the car runs a lot smoother although I still have a bouncy idle. It also seems to have a LOT more power as now when hitting second gear at about 4000 rpm it will break the tires loose and turn the car sideways.
It would only bark them before.
I still do not have the 6-ports activated yet so I should have even more punch when I hook them up. Not bad for a NA.

 

I have not had good luck with the Stants in Mazda cars... IMO you are better off using a factory 'stat.

Also 190F is a little high... if you have to use a Stant, you would be better using the 160F or 175F models. And...Just like coolent in a Mazda motor, I would replace Stants yearly.

 

You should be running a 180F thermostat, and I don't recommend anything at all other than a factory Mazda thermostat. The others fail quite easily.