Hi all. I just got a '93 850 and am in the process of getting to know it. I'm not completely new to cars but this is my first volvo. The first quick question I had is regarding the coolant temp gauge. In both of the other cars I've owned the gauge has normally been at or just below halfway during normal driving. In this car it seems to stay just a hair above the middle. I'm probably just being paranoid here, but my girlfriend is going to be driving this car and I want to make sure to keep it working well.

Is this normal for these cars, or should I change out the coolant or maybe investigate whether the thermostat's in good health (or something else)?

 

It should be at 3 o'clock. A lot of people on the board may tell you to change your thermostat, which on these cars, might take about 10 minutes. - AB

 

Mine is just a hair above 3 o'clock. It was like that before and after I changed the t-stat and sensor.

 

Mine likewise is a hair above 3 o'clock.


1995 850 Turbo

 

Thats about normal.

But if it looks like the thermostat hasn't been done in a while inspect it.

You can pull the housing and reinstall without a gasket unless the o-rings tears when it comes off.

The seal for the thermostat is an o-ring that goes around it.