Coolant temp question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,391
Likes: 1,453
From: South Dakota
Coolant temp question
This morning my wife and I took a 40 drive for lunch. Most of the travel was on a 2 lane rural highway through the Missouri countryside. Outside temp was between 50 and 55 degrees with a light breeze. The weather was great. On the way to the restaurant, the engine coolant temp ran 205 - 207. We spent about 30-40 minutes at the restaurant and then headed home.
On the way home, same route, outside temp between 55 - 60, driving the same speed etc, the engine temp ran mostly between 201 - 203. I am really curious why the engine ran warmer going over, and cooler coming back. What would account for the difference?
On the way home, same route, outside temp between 55 - 60, driving the same speed etc, the engine temp ran mostly between 201 - 203. I am really curious why the engine ran warmer going over, and cooler coming back. What would account for the difference?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 205
Likes: 24
From: Straight outa Jaw-Ga
Interesting question. The entire delta between your measured min and max temps is only 6 degrees for both trips and I wonder if this is within the plus /minus accuracy of the temp measurement systems. One would think that if the ambient temps were a few degrees higher on the return trip, and you experience the exact same driving conditions both ways, then the coolant temp would go up a few degrees as well. But there could be other variables besides ambient temps that you are not accounting for, but for the life of me I cannot think of any right now.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,391
Likes: 1,453
From: South Dakota
I have noticed sometimes if the engine gets warm sitting in traffic, and then go out on the highway, it tends to stay in a warmer range, versus starting out on the road with the temp being cooler, climbing to the 201-203 range and staying within that. It could definitely be the temp sensor...oh well, who knows. The car runs great.
