Ever since I bought my 92' with a 2.3, the temp gauge hardly ever goes past cold. I installed an Autometer temp gauge, and it reads a steady 195F so I know its getting up to proper temperature and the cooling system works properly. However, I did some searching on the forum to see if the sensor is at fault, and most cases that I found were that the gauge either fluctuates or doesn't read at all, which leads to the sensor being the cause. In my case, it does read, but only a little past cold. However, when I had the truck go up to 210-215 range once, the temp gauge sat right in the middle where it should. My guess is that the sensor is faulty and only registers at really high temps. All other gauges work correctly, so I don't think it is an issue with the gauge cluster tho I am not ruling that out completely.

 

are you sure 195 is the factory recommended temp? What thermostat is called for?

 

My 98 with the 4.0 seems to do something similar. Often times it will go up to maybe 1/3 on the gauge and then it would start to go back down. The coolant reservoir has been overfilled since I got the truck so i wonder if that has something to do with it. I am just waiting until this summer i will probably have the whole system flushed. Anyways my point is that my temp gauge never seems to get up as high as i think it should unless i am cruising on the interstate at 70mph for a good 40 minutes. And i don't know if that's a good or not so good thing.

 

A ScanGauge will tell you what the ECU thinks the coolant temperature is, and a lot of other info.

Mine is now giving me ATF temperature.

 

Saberball, mine does the same thing. Not sure why.

 

I don't think he's saying he has a 195* T-stat. I don't know what it is supposed to be or anything but hes just saying engines temps are reaching 195 normally.

yep, I use ultragauge, same difference, really helpful to me. however, no good for a '92.

 

I have a 195F stat in there which is OE temp, it reaches those temps without a problem and maintains that temp. However, the stock gauge doesn't register it, it only registers normally when the temp exceeds 210F which is NOT normal.