Lets talk temp gauges

[Bill_H2003]

Hello,

I have only had this 99 Camry since October and have therefore never driven in hot weather. However, I'm very curious about the accuracy of the temperature gauge.

So far I've driven in -23C temps and +3C temps. In both cases and everywhere in between, when the car warms up, my temp gauge is perfectly centered in the middle of the range. Exactly center! How can an engine that is driving in such different temperatures operate at exactly the same internal temp?

In other cars I have driven, the gauge always changed position as the temperature changed. What is so different about the engine that it maintains such a steady temperature or are these gauges far less accurate.

Just one of those things that makes me go Humm?

Bill

[5spd V6 ClrTail]

An engines internal temperature is very high. it could be 150 deg. Farenheit weather or freezing like you mentioned and it wouldn't make a difference to these engines. Quite simply, the engine is always tryin to stay cool. So even if it is -60 i any reading C or F, the engine is still tryin to keep cool.

[Bill_H2003]

Well that certainly sounds logical and explains why the gauge never moves lower then mid range on a cold day.

Using the reverse situation, will the fans prevent the gauge from moving any higher in the hot summer weather as well? Or should I expect to see the temp needle rise over the half throughout the summer?

Thank you,
Bill

[DIRTBIKEZ]

The engine is designed to stay within a certian operating temperature for optimum effeciency. Relatively speaking it is neither hot or cold. Through the use of a thermostat and cooling fan(s) this operating temerature if achieved. The needle should not wander far from centerline as summer approaches either.

[jhbhatia]

In the winter your thermostat and fan operate less often...but in the summer time, they operate more...

Also with highways, the air supplied to the bay achieves a cooling to the engine..hence you have the term heat-soak for car's at stop lights (not enough car to cool stuff). Thats just a quick summary...

Bottomline: All my cars operate at the same temp (guages), but mine are NOT at exact half point...they are at a little under half...