Mine is the same way, always has been. I have to cool/cold bottom hose with a burning hot top hose and a hot radiator on top along with burning heat in the vents.

Since I've had the truck I have changed the radiator, bottom radiator hose, water pump, heater core, thermostat (once with a 195º/the last time with a 180º) and eliminated the transmission cooler that is in the radiator.
My truck used to sit right here before I started wrenching on it


Now it is a little lower than that, tell me if yours is this low

 

That's right around where my runs all the time, Sheriff. I just treat it as normal.

 

I'm not really worried about it either. The CEL won't come on until it gets below 160º and it has heat so it's good enough for me.

 

mine runs cold about 150, confirmed that with a thermometer and the OBD2 system read out of coolant temp, the thermostat does its job, i made sure it opens and closes which it does...at 150 and its a stock thermostat ive been meaning to replace it but jsut havent gotten up to do it

 

Sheriff, mine runs right between the two pics. A little lower than the top pic, and a little higher than the bottom pic. Roughly 1/4" below the 210 mark.

Now here is another question. How long does it take on average for a 318 to warm up enough to start blowing warm air out the vents when it is sitting there idling? When I go out to start it in the morning, it can sit there running for about ten minutes and it doesn't look like the temp gauge has even started to move. Also, it hasn't really started to blow warm air yet.

I'm a little concerned about that, because once the snow really starts flying around here, I am going to want to defrost the windshield before I hit the road to work.

 

I don't know how long it takes because when it does snow here I start it, scrape the windshield and side windows then hop in and take off. It's about 4 miles down the road before it's blowing warm air and about 6 miles before it's blowing hot.

 

I Have the same question, except my heat is not working. I just had the water pump replaced, and flushed out the heater core. I can drive the 10 to ll miles to work and the heat is luke warm at best. Any help would be appreciated.

 

What does the gauge say the temp is? Sounds like clogged heater core to me though.

 

Now it is a little lower than that, tell me if yours is this low
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I is right about where this picture shows. I just ran water through the heater core this morning, and the water flowed through the hoses freely.

 

Replace the thermostat. And keep your replies to this thread or the other one, or better yet, start your own thread. Please,