[Noam Zane]

I used to pay attention to that so-called gauge until I discovered reading another forum that it is little more than an idiot light. It looks good but essentially its readings are cold, warm and you cooked your engine. My van's "temperature gauge" parks itself exactly where yours and I suspect they all do, a CH above the halfway mark.

Supposedly this prevents people doing what you have just done, comparing the readings between vehicles then running to the dealers with unwarranted concerns. What it also prevents is the ability to spot trouble before it might be too late to avoid major damage, which happens to be the purpose of instrumentation. Now, with the exception of the fuel level gauge and speedometer, which for most drivers are the only two thing of interest, the others are mere decoration. Install an aftermarket temperature gauge, a real one.