Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge question

[syljay]

What is the direction of the coolant circulation flow?
I would think the flow would be in the direction of natural convection 
flow - hot water rises in the engine and cooling water sinks in the 
radiator.
Engine -->top hose --> radiator ---> bottom hose --> engine.

If so, then the temperature measurement at the upper hose would be 
within a few degrees of the coolant temp in the engine. Thats close 
enough for government work.

I see we have another who believes in multi-tasking tools. :-)

SJ in NJ



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From: "LL - NY" <larrycleung at gmail.com>


If you have a meat T-mometer (I have one specifically for automotive
purposes, and it (unlike most) will read down below freezing as well) just
hold it firmly on the back side of the sensor (or alongside by the 
threads)
while reading out the temp with VAG-COM. The brass material of the sensor
body should transmit the temp quite well to the meat thermometer and then
you can cross check the meat thermometer to the VAG-COM readout. A few
degrees difference would be considered neglible to check the function 
of the
sensor.  As a side bonus, the meat thermometer can serve as a rudimentary
tread temp thermometer for us cheap trackie types. At least my t-mometer
cross checks pretty well with real tire pyrometers at the autocross track.
And the thermometer only cost $20 vs. a true pyrometer. It just doesn't
penetrate as deep, but that's not as big a deal for autocross anyway.

LL - NY