An engine thermal management system for a vehicle having an exhaust gas system and an engine with an integrated exhaust manifold and a method for controlling the same are provided. The engine thermal management system may include a coolant pump, an engine water jacket, and a controller. The engine water jacket expels coolant from an IEM coolant outlet, which is directly cast into the integrated exhaust manifold. The coolant flowing through the engine water jacket and expelled from the IEM coolant outlet is in heat exchange relation with a heated exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas system, via an engine cylinder head and an exhaust gas septum, to thereby extract heat therefrom, resulting in a heated coolant, which is expelled from the IEM coolant outlet and selectively routed, by the controller, to one of a heater core, an engine oil heat exchanger, a transmission heat exchanger, and a radiator.