Thats 100% normal for these trucks. The gauges arent real accurate first of all. but its really common for the temp gauge to read just above cold, when really the truck is at normal operating temp.
Your best bet if you really want to know your exact temp would be to install an aftermarket gauge.
As for the placement of the temp sensor,
GOOGLE "1993 FSM"
it will be the first link, thats the Factory Service Manual for these trucks. itll have it in there. book mark the link for any future references.

 

Wow much better than the pdf that I found. Still can't find the location, its not in cooling. Guess I'll just have to search for it.

I wouldn't mind installing some after market gauges. It would be nice to also know my rpm and oil pressure.

It just worries me that something like the water pump might go out, and I won't know because the the temp gauge isn't working properly.

 

for later ref

 

So I looked up on the fsm, and its hard to tell where the location is, and I'm not sure if a 93 fsm will work for my 91

I found out that the part that I need is actually called a sender and not a sensor, but when I look up the part online, its the same part. Which makes me wonder if there are 2 of the same sensors or are they the same thing on my truck.

 

That part didnt change from 91 to 93 so you dont need toworry about that.
I never could find the sender myself either, but if you do ever over heat, the gauge WILL go up into the red. As long as the gauge moves atleast above C, its working. thats just how toyota did on these trucks, no one understands it but thats how it is.
Mine overheated once, And it DID get into the red.
My gauge never goes over about maybe 1/8" over the C, It may go up to 1/4 of the gauge in the summer on the freeway with a head wind and the A/C on climbing a gradual hill, but other than that mine stays right at 1/8" over C.. in the summer it will go up for a sec just because when you shut it off, the water pump isnt moving stuff around so its techincally "overheating" but only in the portion of the cooling system that the coolant temp sensor is in. the minute you start it up and the water pumps, it goes back down, thats another weird design "flaw", if you will, in the cooling system of these trucks.
Everyone says that toyota meant for it to a thing where, as long as its not in the red, its "normal".

 

Thats so weird!

My truck has just under 130k,and I don't think the water pump has ever been changed. I was thinking of changing it out just in case. They are really cheap, like $30

 

isn't the sensor for the gauge at the front of the engine, in the lower intake manifold, green clip - a few cm's below the throttle position sensor? I believe it's brass, and I think a 17mm head..

This.. if I'm not mistaken..

 

I think you might be right. a guy over at the Yotatech said it was between 2 fuel injectors, but the fsm shows it being in the front. I was looking at those today and thinking that might be it.

 

there is a sensor between 2 fuel injectors, that is correct.. not too sure what it is for however.. Try popping that sensor out in the front there and cleaning it up - they get gunky every now and then ..

 

The green plug on the front is the temp sensor that sends info to the ECU
The temp sending unit is between the two middle injectors on the intake
next to the head that's the one for your gauge

 

I did some work on my cooling system. I was getting a squeal, and it wasn't the belt, so I replaced the following.

Water pump
Fan clutch
Thermostat
Top radiator hose
Fan belt

All but the radiator hose and fan belt are oem. I had already replaced the fan clucth, but with a cheap one from a parts store. After that my temps went up to normal, and the squeal went away. The water pump I took off was a GMB, but it said made in Japan, so I'm not sure if it was stock or not. It had RTV around the gasket, not sure if they use silicone in the factory or not. Thought they didn't, and it had different blades then the oem one I got.

The other thing I changed was the coolant. I had the green stuff in there, and this time I used G-05.

Well I'm pretty sure its at a normal temp. Just before the symbol in the middle. After what Ajones1165 said I'm a little worried that I'm running to hot.

I'm also concern that I didn't get the top radiator hose on right. I got a gates hose, and it was thicker, but wasn't an exact match. Its touching the plastic part of the air intake that goes directly above, and I'm worried that it might damage the plastic from the heat. Any advice on that would be greatly appreciated.

I probably worry to much, but right now its my only vehicle, and I got a 70 mile round trip commute 5 days a week

 

Your temperature reading is function of your thermostat set point. I guess you put in a thermostat with higher temp set point to open. That's why temp gauge is showing higher temp.

 

It's also a function of the individual sensor(sender); I had one that read low--bought a new sensor at random from the dealer, and it reads 'normal'(center of the temp gauge). Only change:--the sensor.

 

88c just like the one I pulled out. Same brand and everything. I think it was that cheap ass fan clutch. It was a lot stiffer than the oem one. I think it might have been making the squealing noise too. Either that or I have a pin hole leak in the top of my radiator, and coolant was getting on the belt. The oem fan clutch cost twice as much, but was worth it.

 

Well hopefully I'm not running hot. I seem to be getting a little better gas mileage. I used an ir temp gun before and after. I forget what the reading were though. I'll try and check again, and post them latter.