'81 SC temperature indication, normal?
 

Hi gang!

When I bought my SC I soon noticed that the temp gauge wasn't indicating anything. As a test I grounded the green wire at the sender, which pegged the gauge as it should-- telling me that the culprit must be the sender itself. Ordered a new sender from our host and installed it with the following results (see pic.) I checked and the new sender is the correct part.

Now I get some movement, but not much... what is a normal reading for this model year car?

http://www.evan.com/minerva/temps.jpg

If you look carefully, there should be a small dot on the outside edge of the temp gauge that indicates 212 degrees. Hopefully the temp wouldn't get up there except on the track or on the hottest days stuck in traffic. Many think that Porsche stopped putting numbers on the gauges so they did not concern folks with the actual operating temps.

The zone you show should be normal operating temperatures.

Actually, it would be perfect for the temp to always get up there - 210-220 operating oil temp is the sweet spot.

I'll have to check tomorrow, but i think the top of the "bottom zone" my needle reaches is 90C which is 194F (peeking into the gauge, there are itty bitty numbers on the left side.) If the gauge is accurate then I guess I am in good shape and can worry about something else until I reface my instruments someday and want actual temp numbers (meaning another new sensor.)

On my. 81 targa that is the exact spot mine sits at when it's hot. It's my first summer with the car and we haven't had temperature higher then 20 degrees Celsius
I think your fine