Please don't dogpile me for asking this question...

[ubtripn]

But I have been dealing with cooling issues and I realized that I needed to check the gauge so I laser measured one inch from the thermostat housing and then the hose connected to it and both were 20 degrees lower than what the gauge was reading. It a mechanical gauge with an ether filled line. I then noticed I have it between two headers and wondered two things:

1. Am I measuring the coolant or the oil by having the sending unit there and

2. Has anybody else ever seen a discrepancy this large?

I ask because I may have been spending a lot of time solving a problem that does not exist. Thanks for your expertise.

Also, cood the proximity to the headers be impacting the reading. Thanks again.