Engine only reaches operating temp on highway?

[swampdigger]

Hey guys... my 6.9 only reaches normal operating temp at highway speeds. The needle just budges if you leave it idling, and only comes up slightly more than that with city driving.

Coolant levels are good, and there is no coolant loss.

 

[Ironman03R]

Put a thermostat in it, A good one from IH or Ford not the chainstore kind, Trust me.
Also put a real coolant temp gauge in it so you know exactally how its running. I wish I had done mine years ago.

 

[Exekiel69]

Unless You have a good gauge with # there is not many ways to tell for sure if the temp is right or not.

 

[FordGuy100]

Unless You have a good gauge with # there is not many ways to tell for sure if the temp is right or not.

Exactly, Ford factory gauges suck. They are more like idiot lights than anything else.

 

[Agnem]

The factory gauge doesn't hit the low end of the normal scale until almost 170 degrees, and then only sweeps about a 25 degree range. Is that really the kind of gauge you want to turn a wrench because of?