Water/oil temp observations

[91_S2]

I recently removed the belly pan (can we agree on some nomenclature for this PVC piece?) when I changed oil and installed a Fumoto oil valve. Here are some anecdotal observations.

1) My car normally runs with water temps of 83 C. (I count 6 hash marks between 50C and 90C and mine runs steadily at one hash mark below 90C.) It has done so for the 3 years I owned the car both at cruising speed and in town, summer as well as winter. After removal of the pan however, I noticed that in stop and go traffic, my water temps were getting up to 2 marks above 90. (Ambient temps have been very steady around -1C before and after the removal of the pan.) I haven't counted the marks but let's say this is 104C. Interesting! A 21C increase. It has never done this before.

The belly pan may help to duct air past the motor at idle thus keeping the motor running cooler when in town. This might suggest that if anyone is running hot in town, they should put back the belly pan and see if it helps. When the car is moving, the temp falls very nicely back to 87C with or without the pan.

2) My oil temp is always at 60C. I once thought the sensor was broken but my local mechanic assured me it was normal. Still, isn't it odd that water temp from the engine block is steady state at 87C while the oil from the same engine block is steady state at 60C? Any brilliant ,or even boring, theories about why this might be?

Rich