Too hot to trot?

Hi

Have just acquired an ex WD S111 S reg. Not too familiar with the breed. How hot should they run? This one registers on the temp gauge just shy of the red after 2 or 3 miles. Doesn't get into the red but is very close. Is this okay? Or should it be runnning a tad cooler? The S1 I had never had a temp gauge so heat was never an issue ( Ignorance being bliss!!)

What engine? Check your stat is working properly.

Thanks for the reply

Its a 2 an a quarter petrol lump. There is an oil cooler under the rad. The paperwork days it was used by the army in Jordan.

Oil cooler won't make any difference to the running temp. As above check the thermostat, check for a blocked rad.....cool spots on the rad...top and bottom hoses warming equally.....fins blocked with crud. Wouldn't be a bad idea to flush the system through anyway, block, hoses etc

Only had the thing for a couple of days so will check all of the suggestions.

As above but check the cooling system for pressurisation, it might be a head gasket failure. Is the fuel gauge working properly? If it isn't then the voltage regulator that runs both gauges might be faulty.

Oil not emulsified and fuel guage appears to read okay. So shall explore the rest of the options. Thanks to all who have contributed.