Ever wonder why your temp gauge stays in the center thru heat or cold?
08-19-2005, 02:22 PM
#1
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Ever wonder why your temp gauge stays in the center thru heat or cold?
They replaced the thermostat in my RS6 (yet another try at fixing my boost probs) and in talking with the techs, I had wondered why the temp gauge never goes above or below center even if the oil temp goes up.. Audi uses a system that allows the water temp to go +or- 20 degrees before allowing the temp needle to move. You can guess why.. So, remember this for future use.
That is all..
That is all..
08-20-2005, 05:39 AM
#7
AudiWorld Senior Member
Modern gauges in most cases are just glorified idiot lights!
Currently, car manufacturers used heavily "damped" electronics that mute subtle changes in the readings the gauges are supposed to be monitoring. In order to return to the days of accurate gauges, you need both different sending units and gauges themselves. Race supply shops sell such gear readily for American Iron (we installed a beautiful set of Smith gauges in a Superformance Cobra) - but perhaps VDO or Bosch make such replacements for European cars.
I noticed the change in the late 1970's when emission standards forced engineers to design engines to run at 180-195 degree water temperatures, instead of the historic 145-160 degree temperatures that folks were used to. So, the gauges lost their numbers and never showed overheating until nearly catastrophic temperatures were achieved.
An accurate, detailed gauge for water temperature is a thing of beauty to watch. Stop at a trafiic light, the temp goes up a bit - blip the throttle and down is goes, etc. - Like the dynamic beast a combustion engine really is!
I noticed the change in the late 1970's when emission standards forced engineers to design engines to run at 180-195 degree water temperatures, instead of the historic 145-160 degree temperatures that folks were used to. So, the gauges lost their numbers and never showed overheating until nearly catastrophic temperatures were achieved.
An accurate, detailed gauge for water temperature is a thing of beauty to watch. Stop at a trafiic light, the temp goes up a bit - blip the throttle and down is goes, etc. - Like the dynamic beast a combustion engine really is!
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08-20-2005, 07:48 AM
#10
AudiWorld Senior Member
Engine management is extraordinary...
You are so right in that modern engine management computers do this incredible balancing act of keeping air/fuel mixtures on the rabid edge of detonation - yet engines go 150,000 miles with high reliability - it is just amazing :-)
When I think of adjusting points and setting the dwell on Triumph TR-6's & Bonneville's - not to mention the erascible Bultaco's I raced in New England... hmm - I can't tell you how nice it is to own performance vehicles that start in the rain and run in very hot weather, etc.
When I think of adjusting points and setting the dwell on Triumph TR-6's & Bonneville's - not to mention the erascible Bultaco's I raced in New England... hmm - I can't tell you how nice it is to own performance vehicles that start in the rain and run in very hot weather, etc.