Temp gauge & Temp range?

[Mick]

I'm going to buy a coolant temp gauge for my car. Which temperature range makes more sense?

140°-280°F
120°-240°F

(full sweep, 2 1/16, mechanical gauges)

The difference is probably negligible as (I'd guess) our normal operating temp is somewhere in the middle of both of these ranges, but I thought I'd double check.

Thanks

[Bavarian3]

There is no gauge that goes from 0-280F? *How did you get that little o*? Why not digital?

[Mick]

I don't think you'd want 0°-280° the range would be too wide. The wider the range the less sensitive the gauge can be. Plus, 0° would be one cold assed motor, the gauge would never be in that area.

I don't like digital gauges, too hard to read at a glance IMO.

[Bavarian3]

Well I was reading something in a book about the M3 operating temp, and it's from like 180-280...

Did you decide?

[Mick]

Thanks Mike,
I haven't decided. I still can't find a definitive answer. Although I was leaning toward the higher temp one.

Where did you read 180°-280°? +- 100° seems like a wide range. I'm just guessing though, I have no idea.

[ydubbs4]

From what I know on the E30 325is, the normal operating temperature of the coolant was around 185F. Any higher than 210 and the auxiliary fan kicked on. I'd say you probably want to shut it down if you got higher than 225 or so.

Will

[Mick]

In case anyone cares... Normal operating temp of the S14 is 176° F

[Bavarian3]

So I was close... so I take it your getting the 140-280?

[Mick]

I was actually leaning toward the 120°-240°. Check it out. Seems like the first one here will be better suited for displaying the 180° range. Thoughts?

Here's the 120°-240°:

Here's the 140°-280°:

[Matts M3]

first one for sure. The second guage looks so hard to read at a glance, too much going on. just my opinion.

[H a n]

If I were you, I'd rotate the gauge so that 176 degrees points straight up.
It'll make it easier to read at a glance.

[Mick]

true to your sig Matt