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Reply to "Head temperature gauge"

@John Bungen, you want a gauge that compensates for the ambient temperature.  Cheaper gauges don't do that.  They are only accurate at one ambient temperature, like 72 degrees.

Of course, you are correct Michael.

But I'm going to disagree a little. The temp compensation isn't that important.

Why, you say? Say it's 72 degrees out, and you are reading 300F. Next time out it's 40F and you're reading 270F. Next time out it's 90F ambient, and you're reading 320F.

50 degrees Fahrenheit is not a whole lot of variance in terms of cylinder head temperature. And you're all smart enough to know that the reading varies with ambient temperature. Now one day the gauge is reading 375-400. That is when you worry.

If you go crazy and monitor all 4 cylinders, that's fine too. As long as the cylinders all read within 10-20 degrees of EACH other, you're fine. You worry if one cylinder or one side of the engine all of a sudden runs 50-100 different than the others.

At that point, pull over, check for rags, obstructions, and maybe a plugged jet or two...

Bottom line, whatever gauge you use, you'll start to understand the usual temps that it runs. If it varies or goes outside the normal range, check out WHY.

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