XJS new clutch, electric fan works, recent thermostats and bleed and its running over the N.

Finally got a infared thermometer and just kind of pointed it all over after parking it (temp still is just above N and stays there consistently)

I've got around 165-170 on the hoses and radiator and 187-193 anywhere on the head or the stat housings.

Is 190 really high or is that what it should show for just above the N??

My concern was the gauge may have been off because I can't really figure out why its just running a little bit hot. Decided to see just how how and make sure gauge is functioning. If its a 180 degree stat 190 doesn't sound too hot to me, but i guess the question is what should "normal" be?

 

Good.

190-ish at the thermostat housings is fine. Also good that it holds that temp.

Now you know that "just above the N" on your car = about 190ºF.

On the next car 190ºF might be in the middle of the N or bottom of then N.....due to the notorious flakeyness of the XJS gauges.

If the thermostats are 180ºF then the coolant should obviously run at least that hot.

In a perfect world all cars would have such an abundant cooling system that the temp would always hover at the thermostat rating temp....with the thermo constantly opening and closing just a bit to maintain that temperature.

Jag V12s are not in the perfect world. Nor are many others.

Nothing wrong with 190ºF, especially if the system can hold that temp over a variety of conditions

Cheers
DD