Ok my sister is looking at RX8s, she test drove one and noticed the temp gauge. Im out of state, dont have mine so I dont remember where the needle on the temp gauge rests.

She said it was about 2 lines past the middle. Anyone care to let me know if this is normal or where it should sit?

 

that's usually where it sits.

 

it doesn't matter where it sits, it's basically "normal" or "too hot"

 

Mine sits about 2 or 3 clicks below half. I've never even seen it at half or above.

 

If it was a real gauge..it might matter It's a glorified idiot light. By the time it reacts...it's too hot.

Same with the oil pressure " gauge"

Mazda thinks we are too stupid to understand a real gauge

 

I actually heard that the temp guage isn't really an accurate indicator of engine temp, because it doesn't adjust to the exact degree. I heard that when the engine is on and acting normal (radiator is working fine, etc), it will be a couple ticks below the halfway mark. When something is wrong and the engine is heating up, the needle will be near the "h" marker. Therefore, it's really only got 3 places it can be: when the engine is cold, on the "C", when it's operating fine near the middle, when the engine is running how near the "h".

If it's anywhere but a few ticks below the halfway point, you've got a problem. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Kind of like the climate controls they have on UK cars but we don't have here. What, are americans too stupid for that type of technology?

 

My temp gauge is about 2 lines past middle all the time.

As others have stated it's either too hot or not. I'm guessing some cars have slightly different "normal" needle positions for the temp gauge, but as long as it doesn't jump too much one way or the other I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Ok cool, the car is being test driven in Dallas, TX where it was humid as hell today and about 89.

 

Not only is it not a real gauge, I love the way Mazda has deceptively positioned the needle a couple of 'clicks' off center—instead of right in the middle—just to further the illusion that it's a real gauge—and fool more people into thinking it is one. How cynical!

 

for $160 you can get a scangauge2 and read coolant temp + read/reset CELs, get mpg, intake temp, ignition timing, etc.

or for $450 you can get the racing beat pod with gauges, coolant, oil temp, and oil pressure.