sr20det engine temp

[datsundan]

i just got an sr20det put in my car and sitting in traffic my water temp gauge has gone up to 210+ degrees. is that bad/too high? when the car is not stuck in traffic it reads 150 degrees. what temp should my sr be around? and how hot is too hot?

[DRIVEN]

Late model engines routinely run in the 200-220 range. With a pressurized system and coolant you should be fine into the 230's on occasion. Not all the time, though. Does it even have a thermostat in it? 150 seems pretty low. If not --you need one.