At what temperature does the stock water temp gauge move?

[dustyk]

I was at a drift event this past weekend in CT with rather warm weather. I have a Defi water temp sensor mounted in my upper radiator pipe and I noticed that my water temp would get as high as 98C-100C after my runs. Despite the fact that I am pretty much overheating, thet stock gauge didnt even budge from the middle spot that it normally sits at.

I know a lot of friends that claim their cars arent overheating but I think this just about proves how useless the stock water temp gauge is.

Has anyone actually figured out at what temperature the stock dummy gauge actually shows that the car is overheating?

[teddy]

The conclusion I've come to is that the stock sensor is a 3 step gauge. Level 1 - ColdLevel 2 - WarmLevel 3 - Oh ****, I'm screwed

[otterman]

I dont think mines goes to the middle of the gauge, its a bar or two below middle I think

[ReD*PiG]

Yea,This is crazy that i found this thread!When I first finished my swap,about a week later, i had the same problem.i have no shroud on my sr I was sitting in traffic for a little longer then usual and my stock gauge was up there almost into the H/Red area.The weather was way cooler then it is now.Long story short,I still don't have a fan shroud and my gauge never goes past half way????I am running a front mount ,but I dout that would kep the temps down that low for the needle to not rise past half way.Its starting to summer like out here and i don't want to blow my engine!Any help would be great! get new Water pump,Collent temp sensor,thermostat?????Help

[otterman]

What radiator/fans you guys running?

[ReD*PiG]

Hey,I am running the stock SR radiator and stock clutch type fan.

[otterman]

I got Koyo radiator and flex-a-light fans and mine runs fine

[ReD*PiG]

good for you,That doesn't answer our question....

[otterman]

Maybe you dont have good enough cooling for the car in the first place

[ReD*PiG]

meaning what?.........

[otterman]

Well if you dont already have new radiator and fans it'll help to get aftermarket ones. Most people get Koyos and fans when they do their SR swap.

[180fan]

Mine moves up to the first bar of cold at 56C anything less than 56 and it'll stay below that line, reaches the middle of the temp gauge around 68C and stays around there through the 70's and lower part of the 80's. Haven't taken it past that point though.