Okay, I know... it's mickey mouse, but I used a conventional meat thermometer. I tucked it under the upper rad support.
It seemed like the engine was running warm by the temp gauge in the car.
Outside air temp is about 22C or 71F (it was warmer during the day today)
Engine hot and sitting turned off (temp jumps up in most cars - no fan -water pump etc.)
With the engine off top rad tank reads 170F
(inside the car - temp gauge reads just about top of normal operating range)
EDIT = With the thermometer right inside the fins of the radiator top of rad temperature reads 170F with the engine off, or running. Same thing
EDIT = with the thermometer inside the fins at the bottom of the radiator just above the return hose, the temperature reads 147F (coolant returning to the pump)
So yes I am going to get a proper thermal measuring device (wherever I can find one) and try and be more accurate.
So what do you think? Even though it's a bit mickey mouse, and even if I allow +20F for error or accuracy, it would seem like I am getting more than adequate cooling.
And probably the factory gauge or (new) sending unit is off by a bit
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