When running, my car never runs past the 1/2 mark. However, when i shut the car down, and go back out to start it 5 minutes later, the temp guage is at the line above the half mark. Once i start driving, it goes back down towards the halfway mark. The highest i have ever seen it go is two lines above the half way mark when the car was started, and it went back down to normal temp within a few minutes. It typically takes about five minutes of driving before it is reading normal temp again. I understand that the coolant heats up that is stuck in the block when i shut off the motor, but i don't remember this happening in the past. Does anyone else's car do this? My old benz did it and it was normal, but that was the only car, and the temp dropped almost immediately after starting the car. Thanks in advance,
Ryan

 

Its normal.

 

just to throw in another scenario - mine hits the 1/2 mark like above (normal, as stated, but seems flaky - like it's pegged) - but I'm actually losing coolant somewhere - 2.8 b5 '96 135k, of course I have the constant CEL, but have not acted on that... I've had to add about 1/2 gal of coolant each month for the last 3 months .. I can smell it burning the coolant - likely "blow-by" on the exhaust system... I had a mechanic run his laser thermometer all over the engine one afternoon (hoses and reservoir, etc), and nothing came up unusual in his words - I could only see the digits at a quick glance, and I think they were always in the 160 deg (f?) range. Anyway, haven't tried real hard to find the leak, so I apologize right off for asking for help when I haven't tried to help myself... just glomming onto another post-er about the "is it right when..."

 

Its supposed to stay pegged in the middle when up to normal running temp. The coolant leak could be coming from anywhere. You just have to look hard. Try degreasing your engine, it will help show any fresh leaks. Park over a piece of cardboard with your belly pan off too.

 

lol - not my intention to hijack the thread from you a42point8...[sm=boosign.gif] I'm going to pay more attention to the routine you mention and see if mine moves forward of the 1/2 mark like you indicate - I've never noticed it do that little trick... it just feels odd knowing that I can run the thing low enough to light the idiot light, but the temp never leaves the 1/2 mark - what does that temp gauge REALLY mean, then?

 

the car only reads higher when you start the car up fairly quickly after shutting it off (like not letting it cool down before starting again right?) i would think this wouldnt happen if you let the car cool down completely before turning it off. a turbo timer should help this right?

My car is funny because before the k04 went in it always read exactly halfway mark on the gauge and now since the new turbo it reads very low water temp. like sometimes less than a quarter "hot" (halfway between bottom of gauge and halfway mark) this isnt the case in the summer when it is hot out tho, only wen the outside temp is below 65-70.

 

When the water pump is no longer pumping water through the system, the coolant that gets stuck in the hot engine block heats up accordingly. Hence, the high initial coolant temperature. It's perfectly normal.

undertheradar - I'm not sure I understood your post correctly, but if you smell coolant in the exhaust, it's probably time for a new head gasket.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I do however, have an overheating issue. I realized it this morning when i got stuck on I-4 in stop and go traffic, and the temp guage rose a notch and a half past the mid point. I was stuck in traffic and had to have the heat blasting to keep the car from overheating, not fun to say the least in 78 degree weather. Time to start trouble shooting, the water pump is brand new, as is the thermostat. I'm thinking last time i drained the coolant and refilled it i used too strong of a coolant to water ratio, i think its probably around 60% coolant and 40% water. I thought it held more fluids than it did and i stupidly didn't pre-mix the coolant. Thanks again,
Ryan

 

Take a look at your radiator fan...it only turns on to cool down the engine when in traffic or stop and go conditions of around town driving. There may be a bad relay or a short in the wire to it causing it to malufunction. It's a pretty simple thing to look at and maybe even diagnose.

 

my aux electric fan is not working, and i know this. However, in past experiances with overheating the condensor fan not working has not been the cause, i'm sure it working would definately help, but i dont think its is the main cause of the problem. It hasn't worked since i bought the car and it only recently started overheating. Then again, i dont remember being stuck in stop and go traffic for 45 minutes with it ever before, either.