Seems to me it's one of those idiot proof gauges where it defaults to middle and doesn't move unless the coolant gets abnormally hot and you're in trouble. They probably don't want to make anyone nervous with a fluctuating needle. I read an article about it a while back. IIRC, Edmunds had a long term old Miata that was on the verge of overheating and the needle didn't move, and they were like WTF. They outfitted some gear to it (similar to yours, which is really neat btw) and they were like 15 degrees under overheating and the needle hadn't moved.

I guess I sort of understand it. My first car was a Ford SHO (POS) and the needle moved all over the place, would get close to the high end of the "normal" range, and it always made me nervous (and, because, well, that car was a rolling junkpile).

I've also noticed in some German cars they tend to run on the higher end of normal.

OTOH, maybe ours just defaults to a certain temp, like the 190 degrees or whatever Larishevo stated, and stays there. I can tell the car has a hell of a powerful cooling system, mainly because it never gets bogged down or heat-soaked, no matter how hot it is.

 

I assume we have two cooling fans? And that they both run continuously? I never, ever sense anything, fans, etc. under the hood "clicking on and off" like in many other cars. For that matter, even turning the A/C compressor on/off doesn't do anything audible.

 

Ya thats why I started the thread.....I have run through the Mountains of PA......the Mountains of NC.......south on i95 at high speed......and when I am runnin her hard I am occasionally glancing down at the needle.........it just occured to me on the last trip........cmon! gotta be some fluctuation runnin up a steap mountain at 75mph with AC blowin ice cold!!!!!!! I agree w previous poster.....I think its a dummy light situation to keep us calm and not report anything until we really need to know. Tom and Lav good info on volts.....I will try to find on my nav screen and check....I have a fresh battery.

 

Why fight it? Just accept the fact that this is an exceptionally well designed and manufactured vehicle!

 

Agree. I don't doubt the engine water temp needle. The engine cooling system is superior to any I've seen. Aluminum radiator, thermostat with rubber seal, twin cooling fans = superior engine temperature management which prolongs engine life too.

 

Update........tonight changed out the air filter and coolant temp sensor.........no change in performance and the needle stays in same position......of course in my mind I think she is running better......but pretty sure no change....and no change was expected.

 

Similar to others who have posted, once warm, she NEVER deviates from the tick mark where the picture shows. Never ever deviates regardless if it's 5deg F or 95deg F. Didn't even deviate after I had coolant changed around 100k miles. (i don't recommend taking a pic while driving, lol)

 

I have had my car Ls for a few months now and I had noticed the same thing as you guys. I have already taken her on two long road trips (2-4 hours of driving) and it never moved. The only time I noticed the gauge move was when I was sitting in stop and go traffic on the highway in 100-degree weather with the a/c maxed out for like an hour. So, I think that's just where they are meant to sit and I would rather have my car run a little cooler than hot lol.

 

aside from the horrible appearance of a ton of dust on my dash (it doesn't really appear that bad in person), anyone notice all 4 of my needles are just about exactly lined up with a designated tick mark? Coincidence while cruising at exactly 50mph? Things that make u go hmmmmm......

 

so here is a little irony......was driving home from Annapolis yesterday and it was 90 ish degrees out....got caught in some traffic and my needle moved!!!!! not much....well...barely.....but it def moved!

maybe my new temp sensor is working!

 

Believe what you want to believe!