Radiator Hot on top But Cold at Bottom

[BoostMyQX4]

Hey guys i just notice this when i had the car running for like 45 minutes at normal idle then turned the car off to check the belts and see if they were tight enough and not too loose, when i went to try the belt for the alternator i was being cautious because of the hose the passes right there from the thermostat into the radiator but my arm still graced it and it felt warm.
Then i touched it and it was warm not HOT like the top hose but warm then i touched the bottom of the radiator and it was almost COLD.

Now is this normal or am i missing something here???

[CanuckQx4]

Your thermostat sounds to have been closed.

Its cold out

[BoostMyQX4]

not really, it is like 50 out here but i just don't get it, truck doesn't over heat or nothing like that, it just has me confuse as to why it is cold at the bottom but hot on top.

[CanuckQx4]

Because your thermostat wasnt recently openned when you grabbed the hose/lower rad

On my 15min drive to work through my lightly crowded city in this weather, I can watch my OBD scanners live data and my coolant doesnt get over 173* usually.

My thermostat opens around 184* Ive noticed

[Towncivilian]

The thermostat is supposed to open at 76.5 degrees Celsius (170F). The water control valve is supposed to open at 95C (203F). My coolant temps stay around 180-185F as well. Original everything (except coolant of course).

[CanuckQx4]

water control valve?? Is that tech talk for rad cap?

[Towncivilian]

The radiator cap spring actuates based on pressure, not temperature (ok well I guess you could say that pressure is a function of the coolant temperature in this case). The water control valve is at the back of the engine:

[BoostMyQX4]

ok wait wait wait wait, yalls making me even more confused LOL
So is this normal then ?