Temperature Gauge Operation?

[Mike G.]

Hey all,

I've got a question about temperature gauge operation. I've always owned
Soobies and noticed that once the engine reaches operating temperature the
temperature gauge never moves in the slightest. Yet I can feel hotter air
blowing out of the heater when going up a hill and cooler air when going
down so I'm sure the engine's actual temperature varies. I know the gauge
works since the engine did over-heat once and the gauge slowly climbed into
the red zone as I'd expect. My wife's car is a Saturn and other family
members own Dodges and Fords all of which have temperature gauges that
fluctuate constantly with varying operating conditions.

What is it about the gauges that is different and is there any reason why
one manufacturer would choose one over the other?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Edward Hayes]

In my opinion, Subaru cooling systems are over engineered and have a
much larger capacity than most cars I've owned. That is the reason why
once the engine reaches a normal operating temperature there is little
or no fluxuation unless a real problem is present. JMHO. Ed

 

[etienne]

I can vouch for that over engineered. I was sitting in traffic one day
in Austin, TX during the month of June, and towing a 3300# trailer with
my 01 Forester S. The temps went up to about 3/4 and as soon as I
started moving, ie with 20 feet, the temps immediately dropped back
down to normal. Most other cars the temp would have stayed very high
and resulted in a major overheat situation.

 

[Gilles Gour]

Hi MIke,
I've got real temps on my scanner tools. Here's how it works: the temp
gauge gets to normal (on my car it's just on the wave part of the
thermometer icon, just below horizontal) and stays there until around
195° F. The temps goes up and down between 180° and 195° (approximations
of a failing memory as the thermostat opens and closes.
I think Subaru did'nt want drivers to get preoccupied with normal temp
fluctuations.
For my part I would prefer a temps gauge that gives real temp values.
Gilles

 

[Gilles Gour]

Just forgot to indicate starting temp.
Hi MIke,
I've got real temps on my scanner tools. Here's how it works: the temp
gauge gets to normal (on my car it's just on the wave part of the
thermometer icon, just below horizontal) at around 160° F and stays
there until around 195° F. The temps goes up and down between 180° and
195° (approximations of a failing memory as the thermostat opens and
closes.
I think Subaru did'nt want drivers to get preoccupied with normal temp
fluctuations.
For my part I would prefer a temps gauge that gives real temp values.
Gilles