Tstat determines the MINIMUM termperature of the engine, given circumstances conducive (i.e. enough thermal transfer) - right?

Temp while at idle in traffic is determined by the ability of the thermal transfer system - coolant, two types of fans, radiator, etc - to deal with the extra heat - as they kick in the temp will never go back down below the set point. That said, I have had engines cool below the tstat set point on extremely long grades when the cooling effect was simply too great ... but, this was not excessive.

Maybe we should do a poll more formally, asking where everyone's needle points in normal operations - i.e. when tstat is determining minimum temp. Do it by specific engine type, and look for the most common position.

Both my previous 300CD and my current 350 SDL maintained temp so that needle pointed about one width above the 80C mark on the gauge.

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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg