2000 Malbiu not reaching Normal Operating temp

[fearthis71]

I have a 2000 Malibu. 3.1 V6 and I have noticed that lately the car is not getting up to what I call normal operating temp that it use to. Normally it gets to center of the gauge but now it is running 1 to 2 lines below center. It have 56,000 miles on it. Otherwise the car has been very reliable.

Any Suggestion that I can try before I head into the dealer.

Thx

[gapboi210]

I would do the basics, check fluid level. Try bleeding the system and see if any air is in there. Usually if there is air in the cooling system it will cause the car to run hot but if there is air, it may not be allowing for ana accurate temperature read out. I would try hooking up a scanner to see if maybe your gauge is wrong. Normal operating temperature should be anywhere from 175-210F. 210 is hot but that is how the 3.1, 3.4, and some of the 3.8 engines run.

[spflick]

i personally would change the thermostat! do you have heat? and is it ad hot as it use to be?

[wymi]

It's the thermostat, my 01 Malibu did the same thing, gauge started reading just below normal middle line. I changed the intake gaskets cause of the the coolant leak all these motors seem to get and changed the thermostat at the same time, temps came back to normal.

[igkyoa]

my 2001 v6 runs about 2 lines above center in the summer and 2 lines below in the winter (the heat works fine). i assumed this is just due to the colder air on the radiator but is it possible mine needs a thermostat or something?