Coolant temperature gauge--is this normal...?

[Pilot]

After the car has warmed-up, the coolant gauge is about 1/4, if I get stuck in traffic or a lot of idling, it will go up just under the 1/2 point. Is that normal? Haven't had the car long enough to know.

At what point on the water temperature gauge would you shut the car down?

[dirocyn]

That sounds just like what mine does, you're fine. If the gauge goes over 3/4 you've got a problem.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by dirocyn

That sounds just like what mine does, you're fine. If the gauge goes over 3/4 you've got a problem.

Thanks.

[traintech86]

well thats where i was at. while its not bad, you should further check for air in your system, i found some hiding in the ruber tube by the filler valve. also raise the ass of the car up to make sure. mine dropped to about 1/4 75% of the time so i hope it helps.

[ToyotaTechGeek]

Originally Posted by Pilot

After the car has warmed-up, the coolant gauge is about 1/4, if I get stuck in traffic or a lot of idling, it will go up just under the 1/2 point. Is that normal? Haven't had the car long enough to know.

At what point on the water temperature gauge would you shut the car down?

if your gauge gets that high, try turning on the heater and see what results that nets. if your temp goes down then you gotta start looking at your thermostat. if you shut your car off when it gets hot, then the car really has no way to try to cool itself. you are also putting the engine at risk for warpage.

[scottohno]

mine ran red hot when i was going to rte 41 raceway. i have the stupid illinois front license plate requirement and 13o0 mph at 6000 rpms gets a bit hot. it cooled down without warping though, and after it cooled i ran it and got a 16.1 lmao however, mines always right at halfway and its fine. it soesnt seem too hot, but i do have heat. if by warmig up he means it goes to lower idle then yeah, mine does the same.

[YellowJacket]

Originally Posted by Pilot

After the car has warmed-up, the coolant gauge is about 1/4, if I get stuck in traffic or a lot of idling, it will go up just under the 1/2 point. Is that normal? Haven't had the car long enough to know.

At what point on the water temperature gauge would you shut the car down?

Your tstat has failed and is stuck open. It is an important part and you want it to function properly for proper cooling of your car. Replace it.
It is known from experience this part should be replaced with OEM only. They are about $14 bucks from Lithia.

old quote from 1/2009:

90916-03046 - $14.43 – Thermostat
16325-63011 - $3.86 – Gasket
Priority Mail - $5.00
Grand total - $23.29

With a properly functioning cooling system at full warm operating temp, the idiot gauge stays rock solid just a hair under the halfway point. No matter how I flog it.

[como]

After mine is warmed up its at exactly 50%. It's gone over a few times, and I've even overheated once when I first got it, but 1/2 is where my '85 lives... even with a new thermostat and new coolant...

[tadamany]

Once fully warmed up, my '91 temperature sits at about 1/4 to a 1/3. I thought this was a little low and may not be working correctly. Do you recommend I check out the thermostat, or is this normal for a '91?

[YellowJacket]

Originally Posted by tadamany

Once fully warmed up, my '91 temperature sits at about 1/4 to a 1/3. I thought this was a little low and may not be working correctly. Do you recommend I check out the thermostat, or is this normal for a '91?

I recommend you ask someone in the mk2 section....

[YellowJacket]

Originally Posted by Pilot

After the car has warmed-up, the coolant gauge is about 1/4, if I get stuck in traffic or a lot of idling, it will go up just under the 1/2 point. Is that normal? Haven't had the car long enough to know.

At what point on the water temperature gauge would you shut the car down?

Here is what my gauge looks like...I took this while crusing down the road... it does not move from this setting once car reaches operating temp (5 minutes or so depending on outside temp)... it sits like a rock at this setting no matter how I flog it. My engine has just been rebuilt and system flushed and cooling hoses all replaced so its a good indication of behavior you should expect when its all functioning properly. Anything else indicates a problem.
The oil pressure gauge however will move from below halfway slightly sitting at a stop light all the way to to 3/4 if I am really thrashing on the engine.... but displayed is the normal cruising pressure.

[Pilot]

THANKS for the tips. I dread having to change the thermostat as I just got the system all burped-out. ;-)

[traintech86]

honestly even that seems a little high. its cold out now so i am at about 1/4 even on a warmer day. i doubt i'd be over 1/2 on a warm day. its not dangerously high i dun think but what can ya do >>

[mr3]

As far as I know it's supposed to be about half way. My temp is just below half when fully warmed up whether the weather is 100 degrees or 20 degrees my car runs right about half.

[como]

Mine stays rock solid (like his) at exactly vertical.
Realistically, the gauges themselves could be calibrated differently.

[YellowJacket]

Originally Posted by como

Mine stays rock solid (like his) at exactly vertical.
Realistically, the gauges themselves could be calibrated differently.

Thats true.. they call them idiot gauges for a reason. They do a pretty good job though, so dont expect them to be very different from car to car if all else is the same. But the fact remains... if those components involved are functioning properly and your coolant temp gauge is functioning properly, and doesnt read about right at mid point in ALL weather conditions when the car is at full warm operating temp then you have a problem.... either with your cooling system, or more likely its the tstat or the temp sender itself....

1/4 is never right on full warm.

Originally Posted by mr3

As far as I know it's supposed to be about half way. My temp is just below half when fully warmed up whether the weather is 100 degrees or 20 degrees my car runs right about half.

+1 correct.

[toyotaspeed90]

yellowjackets photo is not high..... that should be with a t-stat either 180 or 190.... it's possible some of you have a 170* t-stat or a malfunctioning system.....

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by YellowJacket

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/d...A0MDAuanBn.jpg

Followed the procedure to install new OEM thermostat as shown at MKI MR2 Write-ups and it took about 20 minutes and only lost about 1/2 gallon of coolant. Now the temp gauge quickly goes to the point referenced in YellowJacket's link above and life is good with lots of heat.

Thanks all for your tips!