operating temperature?

[Kneale Brownson]

Has anyone checked the actual temperature of the cooling system when the
car is fully warmed?  We keep referring to a gauge in an instrument cluster
that depends on a very poor sensor for its readings.  

My 200q20v sedan read in the middle of the first three marks on the low end
of the gauge for the first 60K miles I had the car.  Then I replaced the
radiators, the hoses and the sensors.  Now it reads just above the big mark
that's not quite to the middle of the gauge.  It's there whether the
ambient temperature is 90 (F) or -19 unless I sit in traffic or at a
drive-up window.  Then it rises slightly until the fan comes on and sends
it back to its customary position.  That's been for the last 45K miles.

Before replacing a relatively new thermostat, why not get actual
temperature readings in the coolant system?  



At 10:30 PM 12/5/2006 -0500, CLAG500 at aol.com wrote:
>I just replaced the t-stat in my new (to me) Avant. Not an easy job on  
>these. Put in a brand new Wahler. Car already had a new t-stat and the one I 
>put  
>in made no difference. Car seems to run fine though and has heat. Barely 
>makes  
>it to the first thin line unless driving in stop and go traffic. I actually  
>wanted to try a generic t-stat this time but decided to get the Wahler as my  
>local parts guy had one. Anyone ever run a hotter (95 degree) t-stat? Don't 
>know  that I would like that in the summer though.