Car Running Temperature

[dibble1]

I've recently bought a meter that displays, (amongst other things), the water temperature. I was shocked to see the temp go to 108c before the thermostat kicked in. Is this normal? I know it's under pressure but surely it can't be good for the engine running that hot. Also it seems pointless having a temp gauge if you don't know when it's going to overheat. Am I right to be concerned?

[douglas9401]

How does the meter measure the temperature?

[geevo]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=MrbhWq6xEIm1gQbUoLHYCQ&q=car+running+temperature&;oq=car+running+temp&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0j0i22i30k1l9.24711.33674.0.35687.37.30.0.4.4.0.150.2885.12j16.29.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..14.23.2151.6..35i39k1j0i67k1j0i20i263k1j0i131k1j0i131i67k1.164.lbLfE3tfJs4

225f = 107c so it seems OK

[bhg481]

The whole idea of having the coolant under pressure is so that you can run it above the normal boiling point of water to increase the efficiency of the engine.