There are a lot of cheap after market gauges out there.
If you can touch the head and not get burnt, the gauge
is definately wrong.  Make sure your engine is grounded
well and the gauge is also grounded.
                                      Eric

Ben huot wrote:

> Hey VW Buddy's,
>
> Question for those air cooled vanagon owner! if there is still some???
>
> Here's MY question!
> Im leaving from Montreal to Mexico in 2 weeks in my 73 Westy!!!! (AIR
> COOLED!!!) Why do i choose the 73 instead of the 84 Vanagaon!!! I DON'T
> KNOW!!!! Well, i guess the 84 is not ready enough!!! (and it's been my dream
> to do a trip like that since i was... 15 years old!!! in an older westy, of
> course!)
>
> Here is my question:
> I have a stock 1700cc dual carb, in october i installed an VDO oil temp
> (Gadget!!!, i know!) temp was around 220F, quite normal! Now  at -20C (-5F)
> the oil temp...does not move much (180F???). Even the thermostat stays
> partially close????
>
> Ok, in November i installed a Head temp gauge(#3), the reading was a bit on
> the high side, on freeway at 60mph the reading was 380 to 400F, now in
> January at -5F the reading is 420F at 60mph but the thermostat is half
> open??? i can touch the head with my hand, they are just warm???????
>
> Timming, valve, carbs are fine!!!
>
> So, oil is very cool and heads SHOW'S hot?????????????????????????
> The more it's cool outside, the more the head temp is high?????????????
>
> Engine run's fine, should i worry about those reading.
> What are your experience on that matter!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Best regards, Ben, the ice men!!!!
> http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm
>
> ps.: my conclusion, both gauge are not very precise, that i know!!! should i
> use the gauge as a AVERAGE reading, or should i worry!!!!!!!!!!! about the
> oil temp being so low and the head temp being so high!!!!!!!!