>Could well be. The temp gauge on these cars isn't a straightforward
>thermocouple device that gives a true read out of the temp. It appears to
>work like one, but in fact the ECU will keep it in the middle over a wide
>range of actual temperatures that are within the normal running ones.
>Exceed that and it goes up very quickly.

are you 100% positive about that? I had heard that before, that the guage
really is more of an "idiot light" made to look like a guage.

Yet; when I put a cooler thermostat on my car, the guage absolutely settles a
touch lower than it used to.

>without a dye/pressure test. But get the engine up to temperature and then
>stop it. Squeeze the top hose after a couple of minutes. It should feel
>pressurized. If not - ie it squeezes easily you've got a leak.

Unless he's got a headgasket leak where exhaust gases are getting into the
cooling system -- then it would indeed still feel pressurized.

Of course, those are based on my experiences and not specific technical
expertise

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