Should the engine be this cold?

dschrier · Mar 4th, 2003, 11:58 AM

Alright, so I'm up in NH, and it has been very cold this winter. Anyways, whenever I am driving on the high way or at any moderately fast speed the temp guage stays just a little bit abover cold, as opposed to in the summer time when it is always half way between hot and cold where it should be. Is this normal? Or is my engine running cold? Bad thermostat??

nickthegenius · Mar 4th, 2003, 01:38 PM

I would say that you are probably OK. My car, like yours, tends to run right in the middle in the summer time. My car recieved a new head, radiator, hoses, thermostat, temperature sending unit, and a fresh 50/50 mix of coolant in November so everything is fine in my cooling system.

This winter, my needle stays about 1/8" above the line for the C. My heater will melt the hairs off your legs so I'm pretty sure everything is working OK. It's just so cold out that the engine evidently doesn't run quite as warm as normal.

WMengineering · Mar 12th, 2003, 04:24 PM

on a similiar note..my car (89 SENTRA SE) when driven above about 73 mph, with no traffic, seems to cool down immensly..the temp gauge reads close to "C"...as soon as i slow down or hit traffic it climbs back up to normal or slightly above normal..
I attributed this to the turbulent outside air cooling the radiator or fooling the temp gauge
...lol...i think its funny tho and drive at 73mph when ever i can to keep the car "cool"...

Myetball · Mar 12th, 2003, 04:40 PM

This is actually normal (for our cars). Gauge will go back up when outside temp does.

As long as heater still blows hot air don't worry.

SuperHatch · Mar 17th, 2003, 05:36 PM

Alright here's the scoop, we all have 180* theremostats in our cars, which causes them to OVER-COOL in the winter, they won't heat up and therefore they will run rich all day... I put a 195* theremostat in my Sentra 85, and now it heats up much faster and it's great... so there's your answer, a 195 theremostat will make it better...

tom · Mar 18th, 2003, 05:46 PM

try to drive without using your heater. this may make your cars needle behave a bit more like in summer, maybe not you... ;-)

Myetball · Mar 18th, 2003, 06:17 PM

Damn, I've already been running my A/C

. Is it still cold up north.