Yes the temp gauge is the temp going thtu your heater also ...might trying to change the thermostat....I had same problem with my s10 because I had only 4 miles to drive to work and found a block heater for it ....simple to install ..just had to put it where a freeze plug was and plug it in at night and when I cranked it up it was already operating temp and heat was there as soon as I turned it on ..great invention.
bg
December 2005