mine takes a while to warm up sometimes too, and my needle usually only goes to 1/4 - 1/3 of the way up....depends on the weather...if its hot outside, it doesnt take as long....but if its a cool night and im driving home from work (7miles), sometimes my car hasnt reached normal op temp by the time ive gotten home....i know my thermostat works cuz ive bleed my coolant before and seen it cycle, so i just havent worried about it.