Lying temperature gauge

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MJI

MJI

Well-Known Member
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Location
Worcester
Found this while checking live data, I wanted to see how long the car took to warm up (8 miles to hit 90c).

Stayed low not moving until it got to high 60s low 70s, then suddenly went up to mid way in lowish 70s and stayed there up to 90 or so.

So what is the point in a temperature gauge which doesn't tell you the temperature?
 
MJI said:
Found this while checking live data, I wanted to see how long the car took to warm up (8 miles to hit 90c).

Stayed low not moving until it got to high 60s low 70s, then suddenly went up to mid way in lowish 70s and stayed there up to 90 or so.

So what is the point in a temperature gauge which doesn't tell you the temperature?
Click to expand...

It's not really a temperature gauge in the fullest sense of the word it's much more a gauge that shows that the engine is working within it's "range".
 
Mine has a habit of sitting mid way between cold and halfway for about 5 or so minutes and then shooting u to halfway and sitting there quite happily for the rest of the journey, used to worry about it, replaced the elbow and sensor, made no difference, changed the Stat, made no difference, now I just ignore the bugger!
 
that's how it works, the temp gauge doesnt actually measure temperature, it's driven on pwm signal by the ECM in stages, it goes to quarter at 40 degrees, stays there untill 70, goes directly to ''normal temp'' position at the middle stays there between 70-120 then from 120 it goes up(all these based on the temp sensor reading!!) so a 10 guid temp gauge is a good investment and easy to fit... using nanocom on instrument mode might not be relevant cos if the car's temp sensor is missreading that wrong reading is what you'll see without knowing is wrong unless it's so wrong that's obvious if you see what i mean

some mor info here starting from post #18 http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f50/viscous-fan-cuts-too-soon-269001-2.html , read all after that post cos it's important
 
MJI said:
Thanks all

Seems odd to run in 4 positions!
Click to expand...

Bear in mind the real goal of a temp guage, which is to tell the non-mechanically-minded driver whether their engine temp is within normal operating limits. Seems to me they could have gotten away with just 3 positions!

Personally, I'm very happy with the non-linear behaviour of the standard guage. The designed temp range on these things is very wide and there's plenty enough to worry about on the D2 without adding in normal temp fluctuations.

If you really wanted better data from the coolant system, I'd be fitting a coolant level alarm first (because by the time the temp starts to move in response to a coolant leak, the head has already started drying out and hot-spotting - on these engines, that's a Very Very Bad Thing)
 
My guage goes from cold to normal temp after about 10 mins of driving but if I then stop at traffic lights temp goes down again. Once fully up to temp never goes past mid point. Heater takes a long time to warm up in colder weather.
 
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