[ukrkoz]

well, appears rangers have funny sense of what heat is for.
mine has only 68 000 miles, runs like a champ - but temp gauge never gets past maybe a fifth of the range. takes some extra time to warm up, and it is quite warm after about 5 minute drive - but that gauge surely should be some up higher in the range. asked my pal who has a v6 trim - same, sits down there at the bottom.
well, we all have viscous clutch cooling fan, right? y'all ever paid attention that it ALWAYS spins? you expect WARMTH from that system?:sarcasm1:

donno about y'alls engines, but in mine 99 2.5L, thermostat is all the way down on the RETURN hose. i had quite a few cars, and this is one and only i have ever seen with it there. everything else has it in the upper radiator hose housing, BEFORE the engine, not after the engine. every single other car we owed - temp gauge is in the mid range, maybe slightly above the midline. i start getting that feeling that that's the cause, the design. at least, in my case. mazda designers been smoking something...

anyhow, i quick fixed mine. i am not removing thermostat, to drain the whole entire coolant, at 11 degrees outside. screw that. i simply placed 2 pieces of cardboard in front of the radiator. just like we did back in ukraine winter time. they even made russian cars with air blinds type thing, so that you could control air flow to radiator. heats up twice as fast, gauge is now in 1/4 mark, not 1/5th. will do.