Checking the Engine Temp via the IPK
 

Just found this video on youtube.
2mins 21 seconds in it shows how to read the digital readout for the cars engine temp.

https://youtu.be/ZKJclr1MLO8

HERE is the full breakdown of the OBD. ;)

That's ok for a more accurate reading than the guage, but it's only as accurate as the temperature sender ;)

They can go wrong and under-read, had a couple of cars that boiled over through the cap but still read well under on both the guage and the digital readout ;)

Russ

Yes, it can go wrong but you can only go by what the dials/digital readout tells you.
I used it for the simple reason that even with the top hose thermostat mod, the dial still only reads up to the quarter mark. Having the heating on clearly tells me the temperature is getting to where it should be, so I wanted to know if it’s a faulty sender or dial gauge. I got my answer that it is indeed the gauge that it faulty and I’m happy knowing that the temperature sender is working.

What temperature does the OBD display show?

Anything less than 82 degrees would suggest an issue with the inline stat also. This is still relatively common, normally caused by coolant leaking by the inline thermostat's disc.

Even at 70 degrees, there will be heat from the heater, but this is not optimum for the engine. The temp gauge will show a quarter at this point.

it sits around 89 to 92 after 15 mins of idle

Thats good to read. It is unusual for a gauge to fail - although saying that, my own is faulty, but that was my ham fistedness that caused that failure lol.