Anyone else experience this?

-Sometimes my X-Type engine temp needle is just slightly past 50% and stays there while driving.
I stop, turn off the engine and run a quick errand.
When I get back in & drive around again,the needle is just slightly below50% and stays THERE while still continuously driving.

It alternates dichotomously like this all the time! Is this common?

All of my autos have always had a consistent running temp. Rather perplexing.

Coolant levels are fine, Infrared gun shows consistent numbers every time.

 

I can't say I have, but on the weekend I had to get the thermostat replaced in my BMW for almost this exact same reason, normal operating temp on it is straight up, but recently it waseither 1/4 of the way, or 3/4 of the way, I would turn off the car, then right back on and it would reset, sit almost in the middle but never right there. I replaced the sender unit and no change, replaced the thermostat and it is now straight up again. But sounds like on yours if everything is fine and the needle is just inconsistant you might just have a bit of an errant gauge.

 

Thanks for the thoughts to ponder. Anyone suspect the sending unit rather than the gauge itself?
Do most of you always have your temp needle EXACTLY at mid-point?

 

Mine's consistently just below the midway mark once the engine reaches operating temperature. I've never seen it higher.

 

Mine runs a hair below midway, consistently.

 

Many manufacturers dampen the temp gauges to resolutley read "normal" unless the temp climbs beyond a certain point. My '95 X300 (and other Jags as well) are so configured. The needle stays one tick below "N" no matter what. The service manual states "The temperature gauge is calibrated to give a normal reading over a wide range of coolant temperatures."

Oddly fluctuating readings as described above might indicate an air pocket in the cooling system. I have a hunch, though, that it's a software glitch in the instrument pack.

I am by no means experienced with X-types and their unique quirks so don't place much credence in what I've said :-)

Cheers
DD