The above information had nothing to do with the mentioned account. I have my own source, which I paid for.
I haven't seen the GM manual. Couldn't tell you.
When testing a temp sensor I usually worry about the higher temperatures which is where they spend much of their life. The middle two are easy to obtain with tap water in many places. The hottest ones can usually be reached on most stoves. (Last one depends on altitude a bit... Boiling point of water changes with altitude.)
For example, when MAT screws up in an 87-88 4 cyl Fiero, it usually shows up durring idle when air temperature in the manifold cad often reach 130-150F.
You can get decent little digital thermometers fairly cheap in the kitchen gadgets departments of many grocery and Kmart type stores. You may also find them in the meat department at grocery stores. The one I have was $15 and reads from -58 to 302F. I got it in the meat department of a local Shop-Rite.