Hi guys, new here.

Just recently got a '94 Pickup (22RE), and I've noticed the temperature gauge is barely lifting 3-4 centimeters away from cold when it's completely warmed up. This seems too cold to me, but then again I know nothing about Toyota's, so I'm just making sure. My guess was that a temp. sensor is off, though.

 

That's normal/typical.

 

3-4 centimeters is the whole gauge...
You mean MM?
If that's the case, you might check out your thermostat because it's probably stuck open..
Does your heat blow at a very mediocre heat?

 

Welcome Shep, and that sounds normal to me.

 

Thanks for the input you all. Peow, I probably am meaning millimeters. What I'm trying to say is the needle is barely moving at all. Just to make sure, I'll take a picture and put it up here sometime tomorrow. I'll check the thermostat, too.

 

Years ago I had the jiggle valve jam into the thermostat in such a fashion that it kept it from closing. My gauge barely moved off cold. This was a stock Toyota thermostat. It made my wonder why the jiggle valve was so close to the thermostat valve.

 

Well according to you, Raze, I think I'm good. I've yet to drive the truck in hot weather yet, so I don't know about that, but it does stay around what you showed as your idle reading in the current weather (50's-60's).

 

The temperature gauge in my '91 22 RE runs 1/3rd of the way over when warmed up and driving down the highway, regardless of the outside temp. I have a thermostat the dealer put in, I believe it's a 190 degree model. I drilled a 1/16th inch hole in it to prevent the temperature from spiking when running the heater in winter.

I used to run a 180 degree thermostat, and the gauge only went about 1/4 of the way over. At the time, I thought this was better for the engine (less heat, longer life) but I have since become convinced that these engines need to run slightly hot in order to burn gasoline efficiently (better mileage) and not leave as much residue behind.

 

There is some truth to that...

 

I had one of those, but I changed the sensor(only), and now it reads about a lines width under half at normal, and maybe 2/3rds up at 80mph@100º outside temp. I figure the higher reading will scare me sooner if it ever seriously overheats.