Is that a normal oil temp?

[seventythree]

I don't know about the water temp needle being between the 8 and the 0; my 2002 Boxster base runs right around 200 in the moderately cool SoCal temps as of late.

I personally think the oil temp being in the 200~220 range is just fine.

What I've been wondering is if switching to 160 degree thermostat is of any benefit whatsoever. Once coolant temp is past 180, both 160 and 180 thermostats would be wide open anyhow. And it certainly seems as if Boxsters are designed to operate up above 180 under normal conditions.

My old-school understanding of thermostats is that they only control how quickly an engine warms up to normal operating temperature, and are specified to be fully open once the engine is warmed up.