Engine Temp - Not sure if issue

[bimmerR75]

Finally got myself a infrared thermometer and did some snooping under the hood as my coolant light goes on and off every once in a while. Lately, coolant temp gauge is running just slightly under half or exactly at half where it previously used to run at 1/4 on the dot. Coolant expansion tank is filled to the correct amount, but took some readings and don't think these are the right temperatures. Coolant Temp switch is functional, and did the newspaper test with the fan. I read that on a hot engine the fan should tear the paper up, mine just slowly came to a complete halt, then slowly started spinning up to speed.

Might be answering my own question here, but is the fan clutch the culprit? Have a 91 325i. Temperature readings below:

Top radiator hose 86-88 C
Water pump hose to thermostat housing 84-86 C
Bottom radiator hose 83-85 C

[digger]

if the gauge is at half way for decent length of time id expect the fan to clutch fan to start to kick in, let it sit there idling hood closed to see how hot it gets and if it starts to kick in

[bimmerR75]

if the gauge is at half way for decent length of time id expect the fan to clutch fan to start to kick in, let it sit there idling hood closed to see how hot it gets and if it starts to kick in

It fluctuates between halfway and the just barely under half. The fan clutch seems to be spinning, but I feel it should be spinning faster shouldn't it tear the paper up during the paper test?

[Das Delfin]

Which coolant light? You're talking about the one on the roof? The check panel? That's only your coolant level. If your reservoir is full and the light is intermittent, it means the sensor (or the wiring etc) is faulty

[bimmerR75]

Which coolant light? You're talking about the one on the roof? The check panel? That's only your coolant level. If your reservoir is full and the light is intermittent, it means the sensor (or the wiring etc) is faulty

Yeah the one on the roof. Got it, that would solve that problem, so the temperature being at what it is, is not out of range?

My coolant reservoir has coolant right at the line, should it go just slightly above perhaps?