Where should my temp gauge ride

87 b2000... I'll try to get a pic in the morning when I leave work but about where should the temp needle be after warm up? Mine goes to the middle but after being there for about 5 minutes, Maybe not even that long, it drops down close to the notch above cold.... only reason I'm asking is cause my heat sucks and if a back flush doesn't fix it then I'll need some guidance lol Thanks

Remember: I'm in Arizona desert. And I have an aluminum 2-row radiator in mine from O'Reilly, 2-row like the automatic transmissions.

My temperature gauge (1988 B2200) at this time of year goes to just over the "C" mark. After a 10 mile drive I can feel a little warmth on the hood.

In summer (typical 110 F day), the needle will be just below half-way for same drive and with AC running, but the hood will be blazing hot. On Interstate at 80 mph, will get to half-way on uphill stretches.

OK: a few years ago I had mediocre heat. So I replaced the 180 F thermostat with a 190 F Stant thermostat, that made the heat great again. Also make sure to purge ALL the air out of the cooling system (jack up front end run engine with cap off, add coolant as necessary until full). Both make a big difference.

In both my B2000 and 2600, the gauge stays right in the middle. Winter, summer, no real difference. If you sit and watch it you can sometimes see it drop a hair when the thermostat opens, but just a bit. If your not looking for it, you won't see it. Something is up, try what Cusser suggested.

I spaced on the pic, spilled coffee all over the place... I'll mess with it this weekend Hopefully. Thanks for the replies!

Hopefully that pic worked.

That needle position is OK this time of year, that's where mine rides.

I just took mine 60 miles away on Sunday on Interstate, 85F outside, but didn't pay attention where the needle was.

Mine may not be too relevant, but on my 13B, and stock thermostat (180 degree I think), I run about 1/3 of the way into the normal range, usually the needle is just touching the bottom of the temperature icon, and that is in -20 weather that we are having right now, I have yet to block off my grille yet. During the summer, I was from 1/3 to 1/2 on the gauge. When I had the stock motor with stock thermostat, it was about 1/2 on the gauge. I would change the thermostat, its quick and easy, may as well use a new rad cap too, should be under $50 and an hour labor for all of that.

On my 87 with a replaced rad,heater core,new everything cooling wise mine rides at about a 1/4 inch above the first line in any temps.All my parts have been updated and really the truck over the last 28 years never strayed above that until the rad and heater core were getting aged.The one improvement on a new rad/htr core is super stupid quick heat in the cold season is nite/day difference.You could try flushing the system using lime away and do all of the normal things like hoses,thermostat,and rad cap to see where that goes.Keep in mind 1 thing if the rad and heater core are original they are both age wise probably in need of replacing versus flushing out years of unremovable build up.

In my experience, when a thermostat ages, it starts opening sooner. I had an old 84 Chevette, and I think the thermostat opened at just under room temperature, it blew very little heat in the winter, barely defrosted 1/2 of the windshield on full heat, and took forever to warm up. I replaced the thermostat, and it warmed up 10X faster, had way too hot heat, and if it had a temp gauge (had idiot light only), I bet the temperature did not fluctuate.

Would a 195 degree thermo be Alright? No one around me has the 190....