water temperature conundrum........

[magpies]

I know I shouldn't have started this so close to the EuroTour but:

The original gauge is connected to the sender in the Cossy 24v but (obviously) they do not match so can't believe the gauge reading.

According to the gauge it has been a bit slow to warm up but ends up showing 90degC when going at a reasonable pace! then when in traffic goes up to just below the red when the otter switch brings the fans in and the temperature drops tp 90 again. All seems well . However I've never driven in cold weather until the Burghley meet when the outside temp was about zero and the gauge struggled to just over 50degC and stayed there - until I closed up behind a bus doing 70 and the temp then creeped up closer to 90, I overtook and back in clear air the gauge dropped back to just over 50. On the return journey the temp showed back to the normal 90.

I thought the thermostat was stuck open so bought a new one - on removing the old one I found that the previous owner of the engine (the original Granada Cossy) had cut out the centre working parts leaving a disc and gasket.

I fitted the new thermostat and now the engine warms up within a couple of miles BUT the gauge now stays just into the red and the fans come on just below 120????

So is it now working at the correct temperature (the gauge being wrong) or is it now too hot?

I'm going to purchase a proper mechanical gauge but won't happen before the tour

Do I go back to running without the thermostat?