Weird but car won't run hot

[Jgroce1985]

For some odd reason my car will not get over 130 degrees what can be the cause of this and will it hurt running so cold all the time.....its the motor in my 69 efi.....The hottest it has ever run was 160 stuck in traffic for 30 minutes in 80 degree weather with the A/C on?
On the way home tonight it was about 60 outside and the hottest it would get was 115? what gives

[tooponies]

What type of gauge are you going by. The factory gauge in my 65 read colder than I wanted it to run. I installed a mechanical gauge and found that it was running at 190.

[Kelly_H]

What thermostat have you got in there? And have you verified that it's not stuck open? That could cause you to run a little chilly.

Gauge could also be at fault, as tooponies said.

[Blue Blood]

To answer the question regarding whether the low temp is; number one is the lack of combustion efficiency at the reduced temp, unburnt fuel can wash cylinder walls which reduces lubrication, reduced compression because the anticipated expansion of the block and other parts does not occur, and many would disagree that even 160* is too low (unless you're fighting detonation).

[machyoung]

I would put a mechanical gauge on to validate accuracy of your existing!

[Jeff73Mach1]

or buy a noncontact infrared thermometer for 20 bucks and shoot the engine and compare readings. Gauges are notoriously inaccurate. Even a mechanical Mr. Gasket thermostat/radiator cap would get you closer to the truth