Is my 1097A2 running hot?

[JDHouseman]

Thermostat shows 220. It takes a while to get there but stays steady. Is that too hot? I'm used to "normal" being in the middle of the guage! I also have an auxiliary radiator (a smaller silver radiator on top of the original black radiator)... not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Coug]

The gauges are notoriously inaccurate. Use it as a reference, but not as a specific temp.

You should take a laser thermometer and check temp of things like hoses and the block next to the temp sensor to get a better idea of what it's actually doing, then come back on here and we can try to narrow down what specifically is wrong.

 

[Mogman]

Thermostat shows 220. It takes a while to get there but stays steady. Is that too hot? I'm used to "normal" being in the middle of the guage! I also have an auxiliary radiator (a smaller silver radiator on top of the original black radiator)... not sure if that makes a difference.

Please post pictures of your radiator setup.

 

[DREDnot]

To answer your question, If your gauge is reading accurately 220 is normal. If you can run around all day and that needle stays right there you are fine. The fan switch ideally comes on at 230. and cools down from there. Normal cars do place "normal" in the center of the gauge...these arent normal cars though. Im not a fan of the way these read either.

I second the advice to get an IR temp gun and check the temperature around the thermostat housing, upper and lower hoses and the block adjacent to the temperature sender on the block under the generator and compare those readings to the gauge

 

[Mogman]

Thermostat shows 220. It takes a while to get there but stays steady. Is that too hot? I'm used to "normal" being in the middle of the guage! I also have an auxiliary radiator (a smaller silver radiator on top of the original black radiator)... not sure if that makes a difference.

When you say "auxiliary" radiator, could you be talking about the engine oil and transmission cooler?