Gonna agree with the rest, sounds pretty normal to me.

 

mine doesn't do that. it just gradually warms up to about 180 and then stabilizes there. i'd replace the temp sensor and/or thermostat. get a Stant Super-Stat.

 

I replaced the thermostat (don't remember the brand) because it was going from 200-230 while driving. Now it's 190-195 average.

 

If you've got any doubts, just hook up an old school gauge on it.

 

I don't doubt the gauge, I'm just worried about the fluctuation. I had a Cadillac Eldorado that had a bad head gasket problem that fluctuated, but was much worse and would start to overheat if it sat too long. The truck is much better though.

 

I have a 95 dodge ram 1500 with the 360 me and dad rebuild the motor then works fine years later the gauge started going past 200 up to 230 and some times 250 before it goes down checked cooling system me and dad disagreed so we replace everything got a used gauge read the same a aftermarket gauge read normal ended up being a bad gauge first time I heard of that so I aftermarket manual gauge problem solved bad gauge go figure