Engine always cold after topping up rad coolant?

[tcpx]

well I just got an oil change done in a local lube shop today since its winter and I can't do it myself anymore.. its practically below -15 Celsius everyday where I live, and while they were performing the oil change, they do this little "21 point courtesy check" where they do some basic checks, mostly for fluids that need topping up and leaks.

thing is, I never had any problems with heating and/or cooling for the 3 months that I've owned my vehicle, and i haven't touched anything regarding the coolant as the reservoir level never moved and it was always topped up... I'd always reach normal engine temperature (ie middle or so of the temp gauge) but when I brought it in today, they informed me that my rad coolant was empty... so they topped it up

now here's the weird part, after I drove my car today and brought it to the highway, my car seems to ALWAYS be on cold even though I always warm it up for a few minutes and let the oil circulate before driving it.. here's a sample picture, the gauge will always go down to cold when I'm driving the car, thus no heat

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/soulj37/DSC00086.jpg?t=1197194102

but when I idle it before or after driving(which is a high idle, around 1500's but goes down to normal it recognizes the engine as 'cold' and needs to warm it up) the temp gauge goes up a LITTLE bit

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/soulj37/DSC00087b.jpg?t=1197194129

can anybody explain what's going on? is this normal? is there any possible damage that might result from this?

**** what i'm thinking is one of those guys who were doing the checks might've ****ed the thermostat up leaving it open ### they kept on trying to put one of those hoses inside where the radiator cap is covering to check my coolant

 

[Icarus]

Check your thermostat. There have been a few threads about this recently. Summary of what was suggested would be:

1. Since you said there is no heat, I would guess that the sensor/gauge are working, I don't see a need to test them.

2. Remove ithermostat from the housing, then test in bowl of hot (82C+) water. The thermostat should open in hot water and close when cooled.

3. Replace if necessary. IMO replace anyways they're cheap enough.

My guess is that your thermostat is shot. Check back if this doens't work.

 

[Icarus]

On another note, you need to find out where the coolant is going. I would start with the overflow bottle. Remove it and check for cracks/leaks. If it's getting that cold and you don't have enought anti-freeze in the mix when it freezes it will crack the bottle. You probably already know this considering where you live, but it's worth mentioning.

 

[moto x]

Thermostat stuck open.

 

[tcpx]

okay its official, temp goes up slowly when engine is idling or running at low speeds up to like 50-60 KMph

temp drops down when im driving at higher speeds or at the highway

i got a new thermostat now and gasket, I just gotta find a place where I can work at to install it..
one question though, how come it never overheated and did anything funny before when the 'rad coolant' was empty and everything was in the reservoir.. my car has had its share of hot and cold days in the 3 months that I've owned it and it always reached operating temp normally so would it work if i just redrained the coolant that they added in my radiator?