Quick Question

[Zreberlcoe]

Is this okay? My temp sits right around here at all times even on the highway, but when I'm sitting still it will creep up to right before half.

[lambo]

Yes. That's where all M20 E30's sit at when they're running correctly.

Edit: Also, the temp gauge isn't necessarily accurate. About half the time mine is waving at me.

[e30lov]

I'm going to say your fan clutch is probably bad, or your thermostat is stuck open. Does it ever creep past the middle at all while you're sitting in traffic? Is your heat lukewarm?

[Zreberlcoe]

I'm going to say your fan clutch is probably bad, or your thermostat is stuck open. Does it ever creep past the middle at all while you're sitting in traffic?

It hasn't done that yet but it has gotten to the point where the needle covers the halfway mark. I thought the t-stat just pops open early but I guess not.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

you most likely have a 75 degree thermostat mine runs like that

[Wschnitz]

Mine never moves past a hair before the half. thats fine, right?

[Vivek]

That's all completely normal. I can't get my dad's m20 too far past the pic in the OP, and my m42 is just a hair behind 1/2 no matter how hard I push it.

[spike68]

Mine always sits around half. When i cruising, its just under. When Im sitting, its either at half or a hair over depending on how hot it is outside.

[nando]

you probably have a 70 or 75c t-stat. the 70c sits at about the 1/4 mark. if it were me, I'd change it to the 80c, but it's nothing to worry about as is.

[702pjc]

MY first thermostat was just before half.
Now it runs right on half (80 degree thermostat I think).

[dnguyen1963]

It can get cold in CO. Switch out your thermostat to an 80C one.

[evandael]

+1 on switching to a hotter thermostat.. a hotter engine will probably run better, too (to a point)

[MR 325]

With a stock thermostat (which I recommend) the gauge should be a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles-hair below half.

I've never understood the fascination with low temp thermostats.

[dnguyen1963]

With a stock thermostat (which I recommend) the gauge should be a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles-hair below half.

I've never understood the fascination with low temp thermostats.

I like to keep my bun nice and toasty in the winter! There is no fascination with low temp tstat in the frozen tundra.

[Dustn525]

With a stock thermostat (which I recommend) the gauge should be a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles-hair below half.

I've never understood the fascination with low temp thermostats.

This. Exactly. Running a lower temp thermostat can actually increase wear on the engine, due to friction. The tolerances are engineered to be at the optimum level of friction at the stock thermostat's specs.