Temperature Gauge

[RonJ]

I've noticed that the temperature gauge on my 2013 Genesis never goes higher than almost to the half mark which seems to be the normal spot for it. I can let the engine idle in my driveway for an hour or get caught in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic, the gauge will never go higher than almost to the half.

I have three other vehicles, put any of them in the situations I described, the gauge will climb above "normal" and then the electric fans kick in.

I should check the engine temperature with a "temperature gun" but I've never got around to checking the actual upper rad hose temp.

It's not a problem, I just think it's rather odd the gauge never goes above the half regardless of circumstances. Would the gauge go up if I was loosing coolant on the highway? I have to wonder.

RonJ

 

[Mark_888]

My Genesis is pretty much the same. I think that is normal on modern cars and engines, especially on the Genesis whose engines are quite large and loafing most of the time. Older cars definitely will heat up when idling for long periods of time.

 

[SixFootSix]

Same for my 5.0. Maybe all of the aluminum and the well designed cooling of the engine are the reason. I have seen my gauge go higher, when it was 105-degrees outside, and I was pushing 90+ MPH through the desert.

 

[landtuna]

Would the gauge go up if I was loosing coolant on the highway? I have to wonder.

RonJ

In the old days if you were losing water your temp gauge would gradually drop since it cannot measure air in the system - it needs coolant.

My Genny, once warmed up, also displays a constant temp no matter the season, outside temp or whether the A/C is running or not. I live in a very hot climate during summer.

DO NOT, under any circumstances, remove the radiator cap unless the engine is stone cold.

 

[TheDr9669]

I've noticed that the temperature gauge on my 2013 Genesis never goes higher than almost to the half mark which seems to be the normal spot for it. I can let the engine idle in my driveway for an hour or get caught in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic, the gauge will never go higher than almost to the half.

I have three other vehicles, put any of them in the situations I described, the gauge will climb above "normal" and then the electric fans kick in.

I should check the engine temperature with a "temperature gun" but I've never got around to checking the actual upper rad hose temp.

It's not a problem, I just think it's rather odd the gauge never goes above the half regardless of circumstances. Would the gauge go up if I was loosing coolant on the highway? I have to wonder.

RonJ

Your observation is what I expect out of my vehicles. I can't remember ever having a car that did not have a consistent temp reading when operating normally. If I saw my temp gauge even fluctuate I would stop and check things out. I have done stand still traffic in 105+ degree weather, triple digits across desert roads, and hammered it up thru mountains without so much as a wiggle.
Modern cars need to keep a very consistent temperature so that the emissions can be nailed down within a very specific range.

 

[Mark_888]

I can't remember ever having a car that did not have a consistent temp reading when operating normally.

You are too young. I remember in the mid-1980's that a car magazine remarked that the Honda Accord was the first car they had ever tested that could idle indefinitely without overheating.

Engine technology has come a long way since then.

 

[landtuna]

You are too young. I remember in the mid-1980's that a car magazine remarked that the Honda Accord was the first car they had ever tested that could idle indefinitely without overheating.

Engine technology has come a long way since then.

Apparently that magazine didn't test police cars. Cars classified as "police pursuit" were built with huge V8 engines and radiators to match. Whereas a normal car might have a 3-row radiator those cop cars (and some taxi's) would have 4 or 5-row. And IIRC they also would operate at increased pressure making a boil-over even more unlikely (although I notice that here in the SW desert the police SUV's tend to have their hoods popped open if they are stationary for a long time).

 

[Sluh]

It happens because there is no "fan kick in" on genesis. Fan is operated by PWM and can have any speed required. ECU monitors coolant temp and will gradually increase or decrease fan speed to keep the temperature spot on.
Unlike older cars, that has 1-3 fixed speed fan that would turn on and off by the basic temperature sensing switch

 

[Mark_888]

It happens because there is no "fan kick in" on genesis. Fan is operated by PWM and can have any speed required. ECU monitors coolant temp and will gradually increase or decrease fan speed to keep the temperature spot on.
Unlike older cars, that has 1-3 fixed speed fan that would turn on and off by the basic temperature sensing switch

I think there is a lot more to fact that newer engines rarely overheat (unless something breaks) than just the fan. Owning a car 25 years ago was whole "nother" experience compared to today in terms of engine reliability.

 

[RonJ]

As the OP of this thread, I finally did what I should have done in the first place I guess.

I connected a scanner to monitor the ECT. When I first plugged it in, it showed the ambient temperature of 23C. Within ten minutes, the reading was 83C, after a long idle, temp was 84-85C. During a 20 minute run at around 100kph, the temperature was 86-87C. Back to an idle, temperature sat at the 85C mark.

It seems this engine will run around 85C/185F regardless of what it is doing. And that is why the temperature gauge (indicator) never reaches the half way mark. Impressive.

Sluh has a good explanation. When monitoring the temperature, I wondered about the electric fan, it seemed variable (and very quiet).

Lot's of good input on my question, thanks to all.

RonJ

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