Best point for temp measurement

[Skholar]

Hi All

Just wondering what is the best place to measure engine temps with my Duratrax flashpoint. Should I point it down the opening or would pointing it at the base of the engine or a little higher on the side be more accurate?
Been pointing down the hole up by the glow plug wire and temps seem to be low and fluctuate quite widely.

Thanks

[Bloody_Wheels]

From the manual:
a. Make sure the gauge’s sensor is as close to the
object as possible, preferably within 1 inch, so
that the infrared sensor’s field of view is fully
focused on the object. Attempting to read
temperatures with the gauge further away from
the object will result in less accurate readings.
b. Always point the sensor directly at the object
being measured. Try not to have the gauge
tilted at a different angle in relation to the
object being measured.
c. It may be a good idea to re-measure the
temperature of an object at a slightly different
location on the object, to reconfirm the
accuracy of the reading.
d. Try to avoid allowing sunlight or other artificial
light from beaming in-between the gauge and
object being measured, as heat from such light
could skew actual readings. For the same reason,
also try to prevent wind from blowing in-between
the gauge and object being measured.
e. Generally, higher air or ambient temperatures
lend to more accurate readings. Cold ambient
temperatures can result in inaccurate
readings. Ambient or air temperature refers to
the area around the infrared temperature
gauge, the higher the temperature the more
accurate the reading, the lower the
temperature the less accurate the readings.

I use at a 90 degree angle to the top of the cooling head and 1" away from the top of the head.

[Skholar]

From the manual:
a. Make sure the gauge’s sensor is as close to the
object as possible, preferably within 1 inch, so
that the infrared sensor’s field of view is fully
focused on the object. Attempting to read
temperatures with the gauge further away from
the object will result in less accurate readings.
b. Always point the sensor directly at the object
being measured. Try not to have the gauge
tilted at a different angle in relation to the
object being measured.
c. It may be a good idea to re-measure the
temperature of an object at a slightly different
location on the object, to reconfirm the
accuracy of the reading.
d. Try to avoid allowing sunlight or other artificial
light from beaming in-between the gauge and
object being measured, as heat from such light
could skew actual readings. For the same reason,
also try to prevent wind from blowing in-between
the gauge and object being measured.
e. Generally, higher air or ambient temperatures
lend to more accurate readings. Cold ambient
temperatures can result in inaccurate
readings. Ambient or air temperature refers to
the area around the infrared temperature
gauge, the higher the temperature the more
accurate the reading, the lower the
temperature the less accurate the readings.

I use at a 90 degree angle to the top of the cooling head and 1" away from the top of the head.

Yeah, I got the manual in front of me here...I just heard some guys take measurements on the side of the engine down about half way....just wondering I guess if this is an accepted method or not.

[fallonguy]

I take mine right at the glow plug.