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Hey I've found that the analog is only accurate once the temp actually goes above 220. Basically once the digital gauge hits around the 180 mark the analog gauge will be at 220. The analog gauge will stay at 220 from that 180ish mark up to 220. Once the digital gauge is reading 220+ , the analog gauge accurately shows the temperature. I found all this out since I'm the OP of this thread and for a week or two was monitoring the digital and analog gauges like a hawk lol.
Basically, under normal operating conditions, the analog temp should not budge from 220 once it warms up.
On the thermostat change, I went to one of 194°. Don't worry about me driving it, I've got over 7k miles on it since January (this is not my daily driver either.). I just find it odd to have two widely different temp readings.
While do find my analog gauge reading consistent with what you state, I'm having a hard time understanding why it would be reading this way. If it gets to a set point (in this case, 220°), and just stays there, what purpose does that serve? At that point, it is no longer a gauge.
Why did you decide on the wrong temp thermostat? I don't understand why people are so freaked out that their car runs at a consistent temp. Isn't this how an engineer would design it? The coolant temp is modulated by the thermostat, as it should be, once the thermostat is fully open then of course the temp will raise from the set point of 220*. If the engineers wanted the "engine" temp to be coolant temp, I think they would have named it "coolant". All of the temps are run through the ECU, I believe they made the engine temp a combination of oil and coolant temp. I have researched this and even ask Chevrolet service reps what engine temp really is, nobody really knows.
Hey I've found that the analog is only accurate once the temp actually goes above 220. Basically once the digital gauge hits around the 180 mark the analog gauge will be at 220. The analog gauge will stay at 220 from that 180ish mark up to 220. Once the digital gauge is reading 220+ , the analog gauge accurately shows the temperature. I found all this out since I'm the OP of this thread and for a week or two was monitoring the digital and analog gauges like a hawk lol.
Basically, under normal operating conditions, the analog temp should not budge from 220 once it warms up.
This is how the analog temp gauge on the GM 8.1L Workhorse motorhome chassis worked too. Would go to about 210* and just stay there unless it got hot. Many of us got ScanGauges and could watch the actual temp range from 195 to 206.
Sounds like that's what the 2014 gauge does.
How do you then explain the variance between the two readings? Why would one gauge (analog) limit out and stay and one temp, but the other gauge (digital) vary with driving conditions? The digital reading seems more inline with what I would expect to see. Regardless of the thermostat used (194° or 207°), once it opens, they are mostly irrelevant. Do both gauge readings come from the same ECT sensor? If so, then I'm even more confused.
This is even more confusing. I disconnected the temp sensor at the front of the engine and both readings quit. I think this is because they both go through the ecu first. Thermostats also have a range of temps that they operate. They don't all of a sudden open at their spec number. I think when a thermostat has a spec of,,, let say, 207*, It will modulate at that temp to keep a constant temp. The full open temp will be a different temp, say 210*. Once the coolant gets to 210*, they will no longer modulate the temp. Also don't forget the temp reading that you see on the gauge is taken from a different spot than the thermostat. Also,,,, the 2014 temp sensor is in fact in a different location than the later years. This is why the 2014 stat is 207* and all of the later years is it 195*.
Why does everyone try to reinvent this engine?
Other than the first time the gauge went to 250° degrees, I'm not too worried about the reading. For me though, having a gauge that reads only to and stays at one reading, would be the same as having a fuel gauge that always shows as being full. I would expect the gauge to display a variance, depending on driving conditions. When under a load or driving it hard, I would expect it to rise. Currently the analog gauge only shows 220° when fully warmed up (while the digital gauge reads correctly.) With that, it would appear to me to that the analog gauge useless.
All you have to do to see your temp go up and down is remove your thermostat. This will make you feel good again.
Me personally, when I see a constant temp I know everything is working as designed. If you see a coolant temp top out at 180* or 250*, you know something is wrong.
Other than the first time the gauge went to 250° degrees, I'm not too worried about the reading. For me though, having a gauge that reads only to and stays at one reading, would be the same as having a fuel gauge that always shows as being full. I would expect the gauge to display a variance, depending on driving conditions. When under a load or driving it hard, I would expect it to rise. Currently the analog gauge only shows 220° when fully warmed up (while the digital gauge reads correctly.) With that, it would appear to me to that the analog gauge useless.
Once the engine is warmed up you should see a variance in temperature based on the load you are putting on the engine unless you are driving in 40*F ambient. I rely exclusively on the digital gauge. If I'm running in 80*F+ I see a lot of variation in the coolant temp and the oil temp as well, although the rate of change is slower for the oil. If I get stuck in traffic, I can expect the coolant temp to rise as much as 6* to 10*+ based on the speed of the traffic, the duration of event and the ambient temperature. Where you have an analog temperature gauge, I have a boost gauge, so I don't have the two in view at the same time. If it goes to 220* and stays there, I would wonder about the value of the information that I'm receiving.
That's my point, if the analog gauge (once up to temp), never changes, it basically has no value. It wasn't until yesterday that I finally found the screen combination that showed the digital coolant temp gauge. Seeing that now, makes me feel better coolant temp I'm seeing. I'd rather not have to have this arrangement always showing though, as it is not the best-looking visual display. I'll just access once in a while from now on.
How do you then explain the variance between the two readings? Why would one gauge (analog) limit out and stay and one temp, but the other gauge (digital) vary with driving conditions? The digital reading seems more inline with what I would expect to see. Regardless of the thermostat used (194° or 207°), once it opens, they are mostly irrelevant. Do both gauge readings come from the same ECT sensor? If so, then I'm even more confused.
Well from 2015 and on, the analog needle follows the digital read out. I haven't a clue why the 14 gauge does or doesn't do what it does.
As far as I'm concerned, "engine temp" is coolant temp. Not going to overthink it.
I know that it does not change, that has been my point the whole time. My question is, why doesn't it change? What function does it provide, only reading 220°?