I've had very similar happen today..

embarrasingly - on the way to the forums annual get together:bang:


drove on m-way for around an hour,
glanced down at clocks - temp was on H - no warning lights,
slowed down to @2k rpm ,gauge dropped slightly,


luckily exit to services was steep down hill so dipped clutch ,, and fed 70mph air through rad.. on idle - no change still HOT,
swung into a parking bay.., left car for 10 mins

checked levels - still good ,
temp of hoses was "normal"

set off again , gauge was just shy of middle - kind of normal

did 5 miles at 55mph all o.k.,
then went back up to 70..went back onto H end stop,

pulled into a PFS,
turned engine off - engine cooling fan does NOT run

so ;
1, it's a dodgy reading

2, the temp of water is excessive at higher engine RPM's

3, the temp of OIL is excessive at higher RPM's

I've had the car 1 year, and covered 5000 miles,

it's got a documented service history - reasonable mechanically.. fluids are as bought ,
levels have never changed.

I'm wondering if there is a restriction in flow to the oil cooler..
although it's WEIRD that the temp doesn't drop quickly when engine is off-load.

so a dodgy gauge / temp sender seems likely..,

returned the 70 miles on fast A-roads and temp was spot-on

Charlie - 2001 marea 110 JTD - showing 105K miles.