03 Cooling issues - thermostat sticking?

I'm gonna request you repeat that question with some clarifications:

-- "it never goes above the second line on the gauge" My gauge has 4 lines, bottom, 1/3, 2/3, top. Before the top there is some red at about 1/8 of the total. Where does you needle go, and when?

-- "after being at temp for a while it returns to normal". Where is that? Everyone's is a little or lot different.

Between second and third is opperating temp, normally it's just above the second line and it will randomly peak on the third line. It does not how ever get into the actual overheating red zone.

would be nice if you could post some pics of your "max operating temp" and "returns to normal"

Blueberrypop said:

Between second and third is opperating temp, normally it's just above the second line and it will randomly peak on the third line. It does not how ever get into the actual overheating red zone.

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Is it consuming/losing coolant? If yes, you have other worries. If no, then I agree that a sticky thermostat might be the cause. Get genuine OEM.