If your temp gauge is calibrated and working correctly,
Anything well below the LED is much too cool running.
I strive for just to the right edge of the LED.
Warmer is better, 
Cooler wastes fuel, and shortens engine life, especially in the winter,
badly so. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Vdub Guy
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 4:55 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: New thermostat funky?

<My temperature gauge behaves exactly as yours does. I also saw a
difference in the gauge after the new T'Stat was installed - it certainly
settles a lot lower now than it used to. However, my temperature gauge has
never gotten anywhere near the LED on the way home in the winter even with
the standard range thermostat. I've been doing this drive for over ten
years and I always stare at the temp>

Ditto for my '84 running a 2.1 with the cooler t-stat. My temp gauge runs at
about 1/4, never seen it get close to the LED. My old '84 always stayed
right on the LED.    Jeff