thermastat readings, help lower

Abodyhotrod are the readings you say taken from the gauge or an accurate infrared temp gun? Reason I ask is I thought mine was running hot according to the gauge but it really wasn't. I got a deal on a high quality infrared temp gun and was playing with it (you know how it is with a new toy) and decided to see if my gauge was accurate. I found it was 20 degrees off. All the while I thought it was running 200 degrees it was only 180. Might be worth your while checking just so you know.