T&T: Temperature gage Variation

[Rich Gano]

"I have a John Deere 4 cyl. Turbo in my Trawler. All the engine gages cages
came with the engine. The temp always reads around 180F. I recently had the
alternator modified to use an external 3 stage regulator. Since the
installation
of the new regulator, the temp reads about 5 degrees higher while the
regulator
has the alternator in either the bulk or Absorb mode. After the regulator
goes to float, the temp. drops down. Is it normal for the temp gauge system
to
vary with voltage changes?"

Could it be that with the new voltage regulator doing what the old system
did not do properly the engine is working harder to provide the
bulk/absorption charging current causing a slight temperature rise?

Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB-42 #295)
Southport, FL