The wife came home with a new high quality candy thermometer the other day. I decided to cook some water with it, and see how close my HD oil tank thermometer was. When the candy thermometer said 150, the HD thermometer said about about 158 near as I could tell on the dial. So I'm thinking my oil is about 8 degrees cooler than indicated. You might want to compare yours too, and factor in the real temp based on what it indicates. (now I gotta decide which one I believe is correct)

 

I'm Not real worried about the exact temp,( unless it read 300 or so all the time) just more of a baseline so I know when it's getting hot.

 

I have to be Mr. Mom tonight, might be a good time for a small science experiment with the kids.

You might want to try boiling a pan of water - it should read 212 degrees if you are at sea level

[edit] after further research, only barometric pressure affects boiling temps: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_t...point_of_water.

more science for the kids tonight.

 

I have one in my bike and one in the gf's sportster. First thing I did was check them when running at different temps with a laser thermometer that I have for working on the boat. Cost about $20 at Sears. Both of mine were within a degree of the laser thermometer. Now the gauge on the console of the boat on the other hand was off by a lot, but I already knew that to be the case.

 

I dont think NASA designed the temp guage so I would guess that the guages wont be that accurate, I spoke to my dealer last year about one and his advice was to stear clear because of the lack of accuracy, his view was they are a bit gimmicky and you can generaly tell when an engine is running too hot.

 

Exactly! I threw mine in the trash a long time ago. I enjoy riding much more without it. JMHO

 

I know it's not accurate because when it's 100 in my garage it says about 95 on the oil gauge. I don't expect it to be perfect any more than I do the the fuel gauge. They are references. If I see the temp climbing higher than it runs normally it's either time for a break or a looksee as to why, if the fuel gauge says 1/4 it's time to look for a gas station in the near future.