What Do The Temp Gauge Markings Mean?

[jyl]

I guess the subject line sounds kind of inane, but . . .

I have a (newly acquired) 1989 3.2 coupe. This being my first Porsche, I've been trying to get used to how it drives and where the needles should be.

So here's my question, concerning the temperature gauge. My temp gauge has no numbers, just a white range on the bottom, two white lines, then a red range on the top. After the car is warmed up, the needle points to the lower of the two white lines or lower than that, it has never gone higher. This is in 100% city driving, about 80 F outside. (1) is this normal? (2) What temperatures do the various marks signify? (3) I'd like to convert to a gauge with numbers - is this as simple as dropping in the correct gauge and sender? (4) Is the gauge, once converted, accurate - I saw an archive thread about adding a separate temp gauge, and wonder if that implies the factory gauge is disfavored for some reason?

[emcon5]

The short answer, your temps are fine.

The temp guage does have numbers in deg. C, but you need to look way to the side to see them. Here is a pic from an older thread:



I know a lot of people like to change to the numbered guage, but you really won't gain anything from doing this except a lighter wallet (no flames, if you want the numbered guage, "because I want it" is a perfectly good reason to change). One is no more accurate than the other, as they are both calibrated to the sender.
The idiot guage works fine for me. The first line is operating temp (194º) the second line is where I start worrying (248º). I will be parked on the side of the road well before it gets anywhere near the red.

Knowing the exact temp does nothing for me. As long as I know it is in the normal range, I am happy.

Tom