The influences of medium and temperature on the shear thickening behavior of silica colloids are investigated. The nano fumed silica colloids in four media (ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol, and polypropylene glycol 400) exhibit continuous or discontinuous shear thickening behaviors. With the increase of temperature, the medium viscosity decreases, thus the apparent viscosity of colloids decreases. The relationship between the critical viscosity of shear thickening and temperature is well described by the Arrhenius equation. The ratio of viscosity of colloids to medium visocosity is used to scale the steady-shear rheological curves of the colloids under various temperatures. In the shear thinning regime at low shear rate, the form of rheological curve is independent of medium viscosity but correlates with the chemical properties of dispersing medium. In the shear thickening regime at high shear rate, a higher medium viscosity results in stronger shear thickening behavior.