What's the best (simple) way to verify my engine/coolant temperature ?

I want to check because I've been told the guage is not really reliable...

Thanks

Nic

 

Buy an aftermarket gauge?

 

A good tool to invest in would be an optical thermometer. Places like Home Depot sell them. Sometimes I use them at the shop to verify temps in customer vehicles since you don't necessairily want to install aftermarket temp gauges in people's lease vehicles

They are around $100 and up (IIRC) and work well, just point and measure.

 

There's nothing wrong with the stock gauge. The S4 gauge is generally quite linear. 1/4 is about 86 degrees, half is a little over 90.

The S5 gauge is not really a gauge so much that it is an idiot light. Needle fully down is cold, in the middle is normal, and near the top is "dead engine". It's not linear at all.

 

I have an S5... and had a problem with my temp. Want to be sure everything is fine before I ride it again : it boiled before the needle want up ! That's why I want to take the temp with a real thermometer to check and not rely on my gauge.

I know the best thing would be to install an aftermarket gauge but I'm not a pro in mecanics... is it hard to install on an S5 ?

Just hope my engine is ok.

Thanks for the advice

Nic

 

Back on the road again !!!

 

Best place I've found to install an aftermarket temp gauge is tapping into the land on the back side of the water pump housing, just below the thermo switch. While it does require removal of the wp housing, it places the sender just below the thermostat for the cooling system. This is probably the best place to monitor coolant temps in the event that the thermostat fails to open.