Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange
Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [temperature]

Use for questions where temperature is a significant feature – e.g., problems that occur only at a specific temperature.

151 questions
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How is "outside temperature" measured in a car?

Most cars have a display for outside temperature, and I have been wondering how it was measured... In other words, where exactly is the sensor and how reliable is it?
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
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How exactly does running fuel-lean increase the temperature of ignition?

I learned in this question that running an engine fuel-lean will increase the temperature of ignition, among other things such as causing problems with the catalytic converter. I have no idea how or why. How and why exactly does running fuel lean…
Max Goodridge
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The purpose of covering the grill during cold weather

In some countries it is quite popular to cover up the front grill in winter (especially on diesel engined cars). As I understand the intention is to inhibit airflow to the radiator, but why would you do that if coolant flow to the radiator is…
I have no idea what I'm doing
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Car won't reach operating temperature

Here's a seemingly simple problem - I noticed that the temperature gauge of my mother's 2004 Opel Meriva 1.7CDTI won't ever climb above minimum. I checked the OBD readings to see if it was a defective coolant temperature sensor but it showed that…
I have no idea what I'm doing
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How long should I wait for engine to cool down before I can check coolant?

I know engine temperature should go down to "C" mark before opening radiator cap. However I'm finding that the temp just stays on normal for a long time. I think I've read people say you need to give an engine 30 minutes or so to cool down before…
James Wilson
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What effect will replacing manifolds with headers have on oil temperature?

I drive a big heavy car (2011 Mercedes E63, somewhere around 4200lbs) that I take to the track. It has the NA 6.3L engine (M156) with no modifications. I struggle with oil temperature issues on hot days when I'm at the track, but after adding a…
RJStanford
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Does revving a car when cold make it warm up faster?

As winter comes along, I've always thought that revving the car would make it warm up faster, so the heating works better to clear the icy/steamed up windows. Does revving my car at idle to about 2-3k when cold (less than 5C outside) make it warm up…
George
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Normal Operating Temp for an Automatic Transmission

While I was able to find information on testing the ATF temperature sensor in the GF4A-EL manual I've got: I was unable to find any info on the normal operating temperature of the transmission. I'm guessing that normal operating temperature would…
Robert S. Barnes
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Why outside temperature displays a warning at 4 degrees?

I know that water behaves strangely once the temperature drops below 4 (celsius) degrees. In a nutshell, its volume starts to expand (see wiki for further details) below 4 degrees - when temperature reaches zero it freezes. Again, as far as I know…
Dror Atariah
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Is it normal for the wheels to be over 100C hot after a few kilometers of driving?

I drove my car from my parking to a spot where I can wash my car 3.5 km away. I thought it might be a good idea to clean the rims, so I splashed water towards the front wheel. To my surprise, steam was coming out from somewhere inside the wheel! I…
kevin
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Possible causes for a high temp gauge?

I have a 2012 Chevy Colorado with an odd temp gauge issue. When the vehicle is started from being completely cold (like freezing cold), the temp gauge immediately goes all the way up. This leads me to believe it's just the gauge, not the actual…
kthornbloom
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Water temperature sensor location

I'm installing a water temperature gauge and I'm curious which is the best location for the sensor; in the radiator inlet hose or outlet hose? The inlet hose will give the hottest reading as the coolant is just coming out of the engine, but placing…
KFP
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Malfunctioning Ambient Temperature Gauge - 2004 Subaru Forester

I own a 2004 Subaru Forester XS with 102,000 miles on it and required service and inspections just completed. Now the Ambient Temperature Gauge keeps malfunctioning - often sticks at 77; after a few hours it shows the correct outside temperature. …
Joan
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How exactly does an increase in engine temperature cause a car to breakdown?

I have an engine temperature gauge on the dashboard of my car (as most people do), but if for some reason the engine temperature is caused to increase (due to a lack of cooling or what have you), the car will break down and the engine needs time to…
Max Goodridge
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Why does my engine temperature go all the way up before coming back to the center when I start my car?

When I first start my car the last few days (A 2008 Toyota Camry that I've had since it was new in 2007, 13 years) the temperature needle ends up slowly climbing past the halfway point all the way to the top. Only then, about two minutes into using…
Andi Buch
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