Coolant temp vs Oil temp

[ohyes]

Thanks for your replies I can already feel the relief I will try not to be so suspicious about, so I would not bother you with my questions!

However, this is good to know just for the sake of knowledge

[Paul-R]

Don't ever be fearful of asking questions. Just because you don't know doesn't mean it must de a silly question!

[vborovic]

Those visual displays have no units. As such, they are just a graphical representation of normal and abnormal operating conditions.

Wrong, each segment represents actual Celsius degree values

[jgra1]

on mine.. the oil always heats up faster than the coolant.. usually it's 2 bars ahead.. until they both end up at about 6 bars occasionally 7.. after about 10 mins normal driving ..

[white exec]

Those visual displays have no units. As such, they are just a graphical representation of normal and abnormal operating conditions.

Wrong, each segment represents actual Celsius degree values

You'll have to explain that to me.

[jgra1]

maybe 10C for a bar? would make some sense

[vborovic]

I don't have the time to recheck with the DiagBox and the actual temp values, but from memory, the starting point is 55°C, anything lower than that won't get displayed, and then each next visible segment should be 5°C added, so you know more or less precisely what the temperature is from the visual representation (both oil and coolant), 6 visible segments is ~75°C (don't take the values as exact, might be off by 10-20 degrees, but the logic is like I've explained it)

[jgra1]

my maths was suspect but .. 55 + (6 x 5) = 85
which would be about spot on? for coolant...

[white exec]

I think you have just illustrated my point.
No units. A graphical display, from which only the most basic info can be read.
More to do with style than hard information, and best not to attempt the maths while driving.

Remember seeing a full-page Peugeot ad a few years ago, for a small hatch.
It listed the 10 main features of the car.
No.1 was a "USB" socket.

Dumbing down, or what?

[Paul-R]

Wrong, each segment represents actual Celsius degree values

... don't take the values as exact, might be off by 10-20 degrees, but the logic is like I've explained it

Bit of a conflict there I think.

[vborovic]

I should've drawn what I meant ... ... each segment is somewhere around 5 degrees value ... you can work with that ... compared to white exec's explanation that they're only a visual representation of normal and abnormal operation ... if it would be just that, they could've used only 2 segments, one for the normal, and the other for abnormal, right?

[ohyes]

on mine.. the oil always heats up faster than the coolant.. usually it's 2 bars ahead.. until they both end up at about 6 bars occasionally 7.. after about 10 mins normal driving ..

I assume this highly depends on the outside temperature? Aswell on the engine capacity itself?

From my view, there's no real need for two temperature indicators? As this could be somehow misleading (take me for example, I even created a whole thread ). It would be enough just for one indicator that displays wether the engine has reached it's working condition or not.

EDIT: I would like to start a new discussion (or find one which is related to the topic) but I'm not sure which is the best place to do so? This is not related to any problem it's just a discussion about how much time do you keep your car at idle before you start driving after the cold engine startup in the morning? Ofcourse I'm not talking about summer time nor late and warmy spring... In Lithuania we had snow today and it's 3 degrees of Celsius

[Paul-R]

I should've drawn what I meant ... ... each segment is somewhere around 5 degrees value ... you can work with that ... compared to white exec's explanation that they're only a visual representation of normal and abnormal operation ... if it would be just that, they could've used only 2 segments, one for the normal, and the other for abnormal, right?

They may be representative of so many degrees per segment or they may not. Without values attached they are almost meaningless. You cannot be sure that the scale is linear, logarithmic or the profile of my nose!

It may be a long time since I was at school but I'm sure that what my maths teachers used to say that a graph without units is meaningless still applies.

[Paul-R]

on mine.. the oil always heats up faster than the coolant.. usually it's 2 bars ahead.. until they both end up at about 6 bars occasionally 7.. after about 10 mins normal driving ..

I assume this highly depends on the outside temperature? Aswell on the engine capacity itself?

From my view, there's no real need for two temperature indicators? As this could be somehow misleading (take me for example, I even created a whole thread ). It would be enough just for one indicator that displays wether the engine has reached it's working condition or not.

Well, you have to hope that the gauges do approximate to what a reasonable person would expect them to do. But, basically, you're right.

EDIT: I would like to start a new discussion (or find one which is related to the topic) but I'm not sure which is the best place to do so? This is not related to any problem it's just a discussion about how much time do you keep your car at idle before you start driving after the cold engine startup in the morning? Ofcourse I'm not talking about summer time nor late and warmy spring... In Lithuania we had snow today and it's 3 degrees of Celsius

I'm prepared to answer.

I read quite a few years ago that the most efficient way is to start the engine and drive off immediately. Don't leave the engine to tickover if at all if possible.

Similarly when you park up for the night you should do all your manoeuvrings with the engine warm so that you can drive straight off when the engine's cold in the morning.

[jgra1]

With the mg I count on the oil temp to help work out what on earth the cooling is doing .. its an extreme example but the more I know about the temps the better (or worse )

I don't know.. I like confirmation of fears and somehow two angles of temp gives me that comfort .. I do like gauges though..
Saying that

I think there is something called a vauxhall astra at work..a green thing. It has no temp gauge of any sort.. ! Its actually bliss not knowing anything