Just for info, when Palo Alto updated my instrument gauge, the temp gauge was matched with a 120c/250F sender. Meaning at 220F the needle starts going into the white box marking in the gauge. By 230-235 it’s in the red, and by 240 it’s blown past the red.
I wrote be bellow down years ago- someone from this site recommended ... I follow these guidelines ( May be off... but works for me):
The "normal" range is:
180º - 205º = "normal" street temps.
210º - 215º = Getting hot
215º - 220º = Getting really hot
Over 225F = Pull over and let it cool off, then find out why it's running hot.”
before I had my gauges updated w/ VDO guts, I relied on the dipstick thermometer to decode what the temp needle was signaling, and the dipstickwarning light.
185F-200F is the sweet spot for my T1 mild engine.. it always seems to hover between 185F-195F, even after spirited highway driving on a +80F day.... and I still use W30 oil... best not to start talking the merits of oil type and cooling. ;-)