aftermarket temp gauge sensor location question

[earlyrides]

My Satellite wagon with a 440 seems to run at 210 even with the 160 thermostat in it.
Could this reading be because I have the gauge sensor in drivers side of the block in the drain hole instead of in the water pump housing?
I have my dash gauge in the WP housing and it seems ride at a reasonable needle position but the 210 on my autometer gauge still has me concerned.

 

[D575]

 

[YY1]

The thermostat does not dictate what temp the coolant is, it just basically allows the engine to warm up faster or slower and allows it to stay within operating temperature by temporarily restricting the flow to the radiator.

210* seems a bit high, but if it is constant, not surging higher, or excessively overflowing, is perhaps OK.

I'm more comfotable in the 200* range, myself, but have had cars run 205* without issue.

What octane gas are you running, and do you have a pinging issue?

Are there any other factors that might lead you to believe it is running excessively hot?
(incorrect water pump, incorrect rotation, incorrect radiator, improper auxillary fan installation, excessive compression ratio, allowed to run without coolant, etc)

 

[HT413]

Right. The the t-stat does not dictate the overall operation temp of the motor. The effectiveness of the cooling system and how much heat the motor creates are what dictate it.

Most of the other guys can wax poetic about exactly what causes the motor to create more heat, but as far as cooling system, if you increase its effectiveness, you lower the operating temp of the motor. Check for scale in the motor, make sure the rad cap can hold pressure, be sure the rad is clear and in nice shape. Is the pump old? Is there enough coolant?

 

[earlyrides]

update: I moved the sensor; still running hot

So I decided to improve the cooling potential dramitically.
- new 440 source high output water pump
- new high efficiency 1" tube 2-row aluminum radiator.

Result: runs just below 180 degrees now with the dual spal electric fans and integrated shroud.

WHOO-HOO!