Operating temperature: OBD2 gauge vs. dashboard needle

[Gemma]

I am very familiar with the TJ operating temperature and the position of the needle on the dummy gauge on the dashboard.
My 2003 TJ has a 4.6 L Stroker Golen Engine. The jeep has hood louvers, an aftermarket high-speed electric fan, a 4" long-arm lift kit, and 33" X 12.50 tires.

Once the engine is up to temperature - The "dummy" gauge on the dash is steady "just left" of the 210-degree mark. I have driven it this way for some time without thought or without problems. However, I plugged in an obd2 aftermarket gauge to monitor the temperature- I live in Arizona.

When I am on the highway, in excess of 60 MPH (RPM 2,000 - 2,500) - The OBD2 gauge will climb to and read 226 degrees - However, the dashboard dummy gauge is consistent at just the left of the 210-degree mark. I have no performance issues.

(((If the 4.6 L stroker is running hotter than "normal" - The Golen Engine website recommendation to switch out the -195 for 185 Deg. Thermostat and upgrade to a high-flow water pump.)))

My questions to the community:
Should there be a discrepancy in the OBD2 reading and the dash temp gauge?
Could the OBD2 gauge is a crappy meter?
Is 226 Degrees ok for the 4.6 L stroker engine? Will this temperature harm the engine?
What type of difference will the 185 thermostat and the high-flow water pump make?

Thank you in advance!!!

P.S. - I have contacted Golen Engines with these same questions.

 

[Sancho]

The obd2 data is correct.

The dashboard dummy guage really has 3 settings.

Off, normal, too hot.

Your needle will hit red when you near 250+.

At least... that's what mine did. I have an ultra guage... and the warning is set at 250.... the needle still sat at 210.

When I had cooling issues.... the guage would kick off at 250. Needle was no help.

 

[eastbloc]

Should there be a discrepancy in the OBD2 reading and the dash temp gauge?
Could the OBD2 gauge is a crappy meter?
Is 226 Degrees ok for the 4.6 L stroker engine? Will this temperature harm the engine?
What type of difference will the 185 thermostat and the high-flow water pump make?

1.Dash gauges are only good for proximate estimate .
2. OBD only outputs what computer sees, and computer sees what sensor says.
3. This is a cast iron engine, 220 is nothing. For the reference, on the long uphills ever wondered why some semi trucks pulled over and other are pushing though? Other than influx of cheap labor retards with CDL licenses, another reason is because some have cast blocks, and others are with aluminum. Aluminum is typically the one on the shoulder cooling off.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Which electric fan are you running?

 

[IOwnCalculus]

The thermostat won't make any difference. I'm running without one right now to do some coolant flushes and aside from a slower warmup the actual running temperatures are the same.