Is this normal?

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Scan tool shows coolant temp of 196 F & temp gage on cluster is just under 3/8 of range.
Water pump was just replaced. At the same time, I replaced the gage sender in the head.
If this is normal, what should coolant temp be when gage is at center of range?
Thanks.

The temperature gauge in both of my RMW's hovers at 1/4 or so once warmed up. So about that temperature.

Never treated the gauges as that accurate. It never goes above 1/2 even in heavy traffic. At least on both of my 1996 wagons. Both are tow pack cars. One converted to electric fans the other still running the mechanical fan.

My 95 Caprice.. That's another story.  But cruising it also hovers at about that position. I have only seen over 1/2 one time and that was in heavy traffic with an outside temperature hovering near 100 with the A/C Blasting. I did not have a scan tool hooked up at that time. But I know she was hot.

Can't really say about the Caddy as it does not have a temperature gauge.

I think you are in range. Don't forget the Scan tool is reading at the water pump not the head where the gauge resides. Not that it matters much.

Quarter scale is normal for factory thermostat.

the gauge is irrelevant. Yours is in the "acceptable" range.

use the ECC (electronic climate control) to display the temps and go from there.

That's where my temp. gauge stays all time. It, and the gas gauge must have been calibrated by an optimist at g.m.