Engine temp low?

[James McCracken]

We just bought our 04 expedition (4.6L) 6 months or so ago. Today’s the first Cold day I’ve driven it.
Usually the temp gauge is a little higher than this? The picture was taken after 15 or so minutes warming up to defrost the windows and a 15 mile drive to work.

I haven’t checked to coolant level yet any other suggestions or is this normal for colder months?

 

[coupe11]

Low coolant should result in a warmer than normal reading. It does on my truck. I'd check the thermostat. I had one hang up on my 82 K5 Blazer and it would get kind of warm if you were working the engine, but pull up to a stop light, or coast down a hill and you could see the temp. ga. drop off.

My 1990 F150 took almost 14 miles (just a couple miles short of getting to work every morning) to start blowing real nice warm air from the vents. It was that way for 251,000 miles, a replaced radiator, three hose and thermostat and coolant changes.

I remember my father-in-law putting a piece of aluminum on the passenger side defroster vent to force more air up through the driver's side defroster vent in his 1975 Ford and again in the 1979 PU he bought before he died.

 

[James McCracken]

Yeah I’m betting it’s partially stuck open because it is blowing a little warm. Just didn’t know if this was a common problem with the 4.6 motor.

My old Durango had issues in the summer running warm due to the ****** fan setup dodge used. I could have added electric fans but wound up trading it in for a pickup.

Low coolant should result in a warmer than normal reading. It does on my truck. I'd check the thermostat. I had one hang up on my 82 K5 Blazer and it would get kind of warm if you were working the engine, but pull up to a stop light, or coast down a hill and you could see the temp. ga. drop off.

My 1990 F150 took almost 14 miles (just a couple miles short of getting to work every morning) to start blowing real nice warm air from the vents. It was that way for 251,000 miles, a replaced radiator, three hose and thermostat and coolant changes.

I remember my father-in-law putting a piece of aluminum on the passenger side defroster vent to force more air up through the driver's side defroster vent in his 1975 Ford and again in the 1979 PU he bought before he died.

 

[TomB985]

My '04 had the exact same condition when I purchased it earlier this year, and it was a bad thermostat. Mine is the 5.4L, but the thermostat is the same between engines. It's a cheap and easy fix, not much to worry about.