Not losing any coolant to speak of - just a couple of drips under the rad cap on the odd occassionMerlin wrote:From what you said on the phone last night the OEM coolant temp gauge shows normal. So I wouldn't expect an aftermarket gauge to show anything radically different.
When my OEM gauge shows normal my aftermarket gauge reads ~80c.
IMO it sounds like a faulty thermostat. If the thermostat does not open and allow coolant to flow to the rad, the engine may not be cooled enough with short town journeys and the rad fans are doing f-all. Out on the motorway the speed you are travelling is enough to cool the engine.
Your coolant level is fine? Are you loosing any coolant?
I was thinking it might be a lazy thermostat and that would explain the problem with short journeys - so will probably change that. I still reckon the heat under the bonnet should register as higher on the guage than it actually does so i guess BMCC[s suggestion of fitting a guage would show the peaks in temp which the oem guage doesnt. Im going with changing the thermostat and i will fit the coolant temp sensor that you offered.
and if that doesnt work then i will probably look at fitting a guage. I guess i should heat wrap the manifold as well - that will mean removing it from the car and then refitting it 
I too can have gold parts in my engine bay 
I forgot you nabbed that 