Rodger that. It's more than likely an inaccurate gauge.
I did delete my oil cooler lines before my engine spun a rod bearing. I saw no rise it engine temps.
With my new engine, I went back to the oil cooler lines, but I made my own with barbed fittings/fuel injection clamps/fuel line.
I keep a close eye on the whole contraption though.
What size barb fittings did you use? I have been researching and the best "guess" I can come up with is 3/8 NPT? I'm going to go with the non-cooler adapter for now, but in the future I would like to incorporate another cooler outside the radiator and make my own lines from hydraulic hose.