yes this is per an autometer phantom guage, i havent tried the turkey thermometer. the thermostat that i have been using is a mr gasket 180, those are balanced correct?
Yes they are supposed to be balanced, I've heard good and bad things about the Mr Gasket thermo; I had a Mr Gasket 195 and it ran way, way, waaay too cool in the winter, I put a Stant Superstat in and it was all good.
Since thermostats are cheap and easy to replace, and you exhausted all your options, I might try a different brand of thermostat.