Don't panic because your guage reads something other that what you are anticipating it will read.

Your car may have had a lower temp thermostat in it or it may have been weak for a long time. Your new one sounds like it is correct.

If you are concerned with it, get a non-contact IR thermometer and actually measure the temperature at the water outlet. Normal operating rage will be up to 215F or so before the low speed fan kicks on.

Steve


98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car 89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles 94 SHO ATX - 190K 1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K. ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!