[Lil bastard]

Hate to disagree, but coolant temp is NOT engine temp - proper combustion could not take place in a 180° environment.

The coolant, flowing through the water jackets does NOTHING to cool either the main, conrod or camshaft bearings - this is carried out by the oil, not the coolant ! The oil sheds this heat through the sump and oil cooler which, in the case of the Boxster, means to the coolant.

In fact, fully 60% of engine cooling is accomplished by the oil - not the coolant !!

The coolant extracts heat from mainly the combustion chamber and the head - cooling the valves in the process.

But, the major components of the engine - the Block, Crank, Pistons, etc. typically run in the 500°-600° range as previously mentioned.

If what you say were true - that coolant temp = engine temp, then no pyrometer reading should exceed 180°- 185° (except maybe the headers/exhaust manifold), which is certainly not the case.

That's not to say the coolant doesn't perform a critical role, it certainly does. But to obsess about it does not accomplish what many mistakenly believe.