My 200tdi doesn't normally get up to half way on the temp gauge. In winter it needed a rad muff to get even a third up - but it did start to move the needle fairly soon.
I've just towed a friends LWB transit up Greenhow hill and had to resort to low 1st at one point, then ended up working through to low 5th.
The needle climbed to the top of the white section but luckily didn't get into the red. As soon as we got onto flatter ground and I got into high box, the needle dropped down to normal.
I've no radiator cowl on the back of the rad.
Would the sudden gauge rise be due to the lack of cowl? Or it is likely to be the thermostat? Or anything else???
Cheers.