Just got an '08 hatchback and I'm very happy with it so far. However, one thing concerns me. Once out on the highway the temp gauge reads hot. It's either pinned or one or two graduations from pinned.
I wonder if the reading is really true. There is no pinging or other expensive sounds coming from the engine. I've driven 30 or 40 miles like that and everything except the heat gauge appears normal. The fan is on when I come to a stop and idle, but when I shut down there are no little noises that indicate overheating. The radiator is full and the oil looks okay and doesn't smell cooked. I don't feel a great deal of heat coming off the engine.
So the question is, is this normal for this car? Or do I have a bad gauge, or sending unit or thermostat?
Tks.

 

could be a bad thermostat, unusual on a fairly new car. You can get the actual data for the temp using a scan tool to make sure. if I recall mine is around 190-195F when up to temp.
If you have the tool, you can make sure it's accurate when you start the car - engine = outside temp.

 

djs -
i guess you mean one of those IR heat sensing guns. i've meant to get one of those.. so it's off to radio shuck.
tks

 

Well the IR gun helps too, but I was talking about an OBD2 scan tool for the car, which allows you to interface with the computer to see what it is reading for temp.

 

ah! okay.