OK, guess its time I pay attention to the car and get an update.. The car has been at that temp since I replaced the radiator in July (it had a leak in the plastic section). The fan works, and kicks on every now and then, but the gauge doesn't lower. The coolant does flow into the overflow (so thermostat works, it also was a replacement, if that matters) and as far as I can tell it goes through the radiator, though probably not a swiftly as it should. The intake hose feels quite hot, the other probably 120-130, so I assume there's flow, though I really don't know.

I did a flush when I changed the rad with DI water 3x before filling with volvo fluid (what was left in block+1 gallon got just under the min line, so I topped with more bottled water). I don't believe there is any air in the system (unusual that it wouldn't have fizzled out, and I did 'burp' the system right after putting the rad in. Rad is aftermarket though which could have something to do with it.

Fan on and fan off make no difference to the temp gauge.

When it hits the feet its at, or very near, the temp the dial is set to, but straight out vent is where the hot stuff is.
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If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?