2008 C300 Normal Operating Temp 90C? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

nhdoc · #1 04-12-2008, 08:48 AM

Hi All,

We just took delivery of our '08 C300 4 Matic, nice ride, very nice. It handles like it is on rails.

I noticed they have put a temp gauge back in the cluster...good! One thing though, on most of my older benzes the normal operating temp is close to 80C and this one seems to run at about 90C or a little over...anyone with a C300 or any dealer techs can confirm this is "normal"?

stevebfl · #2 04-12-2008, 10:07 AM

90deg C has been the normal operating temp for years. Thermostat openning is commonly 87 deg. It is rare or defective to see cars running at 80deg. It is probably more common to see cars running at 100deg.

Higher efficiency is derived by higher operating temps, be thankful you aren't driving a BMW. BMW uses a electrically controlled thermostat following what is called "Map Cooling". Because deviations are great naturally, BMWs that have a temp gauge are really idiot gauges as the needle stays in the center from 170deg to 230deg F with no movement.

nhdoc · #3 04-12-2008, 10:19 AM

Thanks for the prompt reply...my most recent M-B with a temp gauge is my '98 E300 and that runs at 80C which is normal for it.

The last few cars we've had up through our '04 didn't have a gauge. It's just weird that if they consider 90C to be "normal" they didn't recalibrate the scale so it is at horizontal. It is disturbing to see a needle reading above the horizon since that's the way the temp gauges were always set up to read as "normal" pointing straight across.