What's the best area to check oil temp with a IR thermometer

[kodioneill]

I have a IR thermometer what is the best area to get an accurate oil temperature reading? My SC 3.0 seems to be running very warm (near 230 Deg best I can tell 87 deg ambient) I want to check the gauge for accuracy before I dive into a repair.

[matt demaria]

Shoot it on the oil temp sensor.

[Targalid]

I have tested one of these, comparing it to various temperatures versus thermometers and found the el cheapo HF model to be within a degree or two of the thermometers. I think it is accurate. The hottest temps I have measured have been from the oil return line from the engine to the oil tank. I have tried underneath the car, various engine parts accessible from the sides and the top such as oil temp sender, pressure sender, valve covers, sump plate and oil lines. The hottest that I have located is that oil return line coming from the scavenger pump to the oil tank. The temperature I measure is very close to what is indicated by the gauge in the dash. The good news? 230F is 110C which isn't that much above boiling water. Organic chemicals, such as those found in oil, are not likely to decompose at 110C.