my temp guage doesnt have any numbers on it, but it doesnt go more than 1/8th of the way up, should it not be going higher? it just kinda makes me wonder thats all it doesnt seem to go higher no matter how hard i run the engine.

 

S4 temp gauges tend to run in that area normally.
S5's sit at halfway.

Get a real temp gauge to tell the actual temp.

 

i got a 1986, thx i'll do that.

 

You know im just wondering with my cars temp, whats a good range my car sits at around 92 deg C but if i have the aircon on and its a hot day i have seen up to 104 deg C but the std temp gauge hasnt moved from the center, how hot do they get before it starts moving?

 

my factory gauge moves about as much as my aftermarket gauge, its just that the aftermarket has more range as its a full sweep and the factory is not even a half sweep.

My stock gauge is s4, engine is s5 but standalone ecu.
I have 3 temp gauges and they all follow each other.

Your movement sounds normal

 

The S5 gauge is more of an idiot light than a gauge.
It seems to indicate "Cold", "Normal" and "Blown Seals".

For a while I had the stock gauge and the aftermarket (VDO) gauge hooked up simultaneously. By turning off the efan I could raise the water temp at will and the stock gauge did not budge while the VDO rose from 180° to over 210°, which is where I chickened out.
I'm not sure how hot the stocker has to get before it starts to indicate trouble.

I understand that the S4 unit is more linear- and possibly more informative- but can't say from personal experience.

 

ok so i shouldnt worry about it now... but if a light comes on it means oh dear sweet mike, pull over and let her sit and cool?

 

That is probably the difference, I know on the dyno we were watching the factory gauge go up and down instantly, so I guess this is one case where S4 > S5!

 

Thermostat temperature is 84 degrees, so around there is where your car should run.

92 degrees is too hot for normal driving. It won't damage the engine, but it's too hot.

104 is into danger territory. Won't be an issue if it only happens a few times, but to constantly drive at that temperature is really going to wear things down quickly.

What are your oil temps? At 104 degrees I'd expect your oil temps to be ridiculously high.