Low engine temp while driving question. Pic included

[ThatWhiteM3]

I know I asked that question before and people told me it's normal but I'm pretty sure it's not. After oil filter housing replace and radiator removal and putting it back in this is the engine temp i get while driving normal speeds. If I were to let it idle in just sitting on a lot or pushing limits it stays in a middle or passes middle bar just barely. What could be the issue? Open thermostat? Well I replaced that. Also when temperature is below middle bar return hose is cold. As I mention in other post before that only about 6 liters of coolant/distilled water would make reservoir to the full mark. I let the engine run for a while before to let all the air out if it was could be aired but nothing changed. Any thoughts? Ideas? I know it's not normal. Also getting valve cover gasket leak idk if that's relevant to this issue. Happened few days after coolant flush.

[Powashiftin]

Originally Posted by ThatWhiteM3

I know I asked that question before and people told me it's normal but I'm pretty sure it's not. After oil filter housing replace and radiator removal and putting it back in this is the engine temp i get while driving normal speeds. If I were to let it idle in just sitting on a lot or pushing limits it stays in a middle or passes middle bar just barely. What could be the issue? Open thermostat? Well I replaced that. Also when temperature is below middle bar return hose is cold. As I mention in other post before that only about 6 liters of coolant/distilled water would make reservoir to the full mark. I let the engine run for a while before to let all the air out if it was could be aired but nothing changed. Any thoughts? Ideas? I know it's not normal. Also getting valve cover gasket leak idk if that's relevant to this issue. Happened few days after coolant flush.

I would say it's fine. Mine runs around the same temps in the northeast at this time of year.

[WingZeroX5]

Originally Posted by ThatWhiteM3

I know I asked that question before and people told me it's normal but I'm pretty sure it's not. After oil filter housing replace and radiator removal and putting it back in this is the engine temp i get while driving normal speeds. If I were to let it idle in just sitting on a lot or pushing limits it stays in a middle or passes middle bar just barely. What could be the issue? Open thermostat? Well I replaced that. Also when temperature is below middle bar return hose is cold. As I mention in other post before that only about 6 liters of coolant/distilled water would make reservoir to the full mark. I let the engine run for a while before to let all the air out if it was could be aired but nothing changed. Any thoughts? Ideas? I know it's not normal. Also getting valve cover gasket leak idk if that's relevant to this issue. Happened few days after coolant flush.

Your car is fine

Letting it idle = no air actively cooling, so it will obviously shoot up to the middle bar.

The issue? You're thinking about it way too much

[yidgyi]

Mine idles like that during this time of year. Goes up a little bit if I push it. I live 20-30 minutes from Woodbrige.

[TWiTCHY]

Looks normal to me, but if you're not at the middle mark after 12 minutes of driving in above freezing temps, I would guess your thermostat needs replacing. Standing just below middle mark is fine, too.

[Solo_M_Tech]

Exactly how mine behaves when I putt around..... you're fine.

Or you can drive it harder to push up those temps if you feel so inclined.

The choice is yours.

[8k4]

First sign of rod bearing failure.

[serranot]

Normal.

[roastbeef]

100% normal. you're overthinking this. the car is healthy.

[admranger]

I don't think it's out of the range of acceptable.

[opihi5]

Who told you it wasn't fine? As above stated it is perfectly normal.

[Denk]

That's perfectly normal. All of my e92's sat just under 210 just putzing around. If driving in the mountains or doing some spirited back road driving they all got over 210 but cooled down quick.

[dparm]

It's fine. The needle's margin of error is probably pretty big. As long as it's consistently around that middle mark, you are good to go.

[Zeus69]

Originally Posted by 8k4

First sign of rod bearing failure.

lol

[BanjoPaterson]

Totally normal.

During summer here when temps got to 40°C tried to get my temperature 3/4s of the way through heavy driving, albeit road driving. Got it a fraction past midway at best, and then driving leisurely it went back under.

Whatever problems the E9x M3 may or may not have, keeping the oil cool doesn't appear to be one of them.

Of course, this was limited to road use and not track use.

[Locksmythe]

Mine has been at about that point in normal use for a long time, though I do recall it being higher when the car was newer. Lately the analog needle reads 200ish and a digital guage will report 186 or so.

My bet is that your coolant mix was not 50/50 prior to the service. If you had more than half anti-freeze in the mix before, your cooling efficiency would be suboptimal. Now that you have refilled with a correct mix the efficiency has gone up because water cools better than coolant.

That, or you used too much water on the refill!

[Siajoon]

OP are you seriously concerned that your car is running cool? i am so damn confused.
it says its 55 degrees.... what do you expect.... facepalm

[SaNGRia]

wish always runs at that temp (Floridian)

[Helmsman]

OP, mine is the same whuch Im hoping is perfectly normal. Much bigger consern should it stick above the middle regardless of driving.