![]() Using a professional OBD2 scanner with a laptop and professional software will get you the most accurate coolant temperature readout in real-time as well as every single other parameter the ECU keeps track of. What I can tell you is that all BMWs with OBCs have this option. I also can’t tell you which vehicles have this option, but doing a quick search with your vehicle’s make and model will reveal everything you need to know. But accessing this information requires special procedures that you can only find on forums. ![]() This isn’t a possible method for all makes, and models, but some cars will let you read different engine parameters through the onboard computer, including the coolant temperature. Any price and availability information displayed on at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: You can pick these up for about 20 bucks on Amazon, and the only other thing you need is to download a free corresponding app on your smartphone, and that’s it. One of the parameters you can keep track of is the coolant temperature, and you will get a precise readout just like you would with a professional tool. They are easy to use, they are precise, they let you scan and delete fault codes, and they give you a data readout in real-time on your smartphone. OBD2 Bluetooth adapters have become extremely popular in the past decade for a couple of reasons. For example, this can reveal if the thermostat is faulty, the radiator fan, if the coolant passages are clogged, if the coolant temperature sensor is bad, and more. That will give you a better insight into how the engine is operating at what conditions and whether or not there is a fault in some of the systems. But if you want a precise coolant temp readout, there are ways you can access it. ![]() How to Check Coolant TemperatureĪs we just mentioned, the factory temperature gauge in any car isn’t precise and cancels out all the normal temperature fluctuations. If the temperature passes 110C or 230F, you will most likely get a coolant temperature warning light and a check engine light indicating that the engine is overheating. Instead, the temperature gauge will remain in the middle as long as the coolant temperature is within range, and only as it crosses 105C or 220F will it begin to move. But keep in mind that the standard coolant temperature gauge has a 5-7 degree Celsius buffer, so you won’t notice all these fluctuations in real-time. This is why as soon as you open the throttle, the ECU opens the thermostat to cool down the combustion chamber and then advances ignition timing to free up more horsepower from the engine. But a hotter combustion chamber requires a retarded ignition timing which lowers performance. The reason manufacturers set them up this way is that a hotter combustion chamber means the fuel burns more efficiently and causes less pollution. It’s also worth mentioning that coolant temperature fluctuations are entirely normal, and you will notice that the engine is running hot while cruising and cools down as soon as you start to accelerate a little harder.Īt least, that’s the case for engines that have electronically controlled thermostats. ![]() But since most vehicles don’t have temperature numbers on the coolant temperature gauge, the normal operating temperature is right in the middle.Īnything past the middle is considered running hot, and anything under that is running cold. That goes for both gasoline and diesel engines. Most vehicles, regardless of engine size or fuel type, run with a coolant temperature of 190 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. And for some vehicles, it’s normal for the coolant temperature to drop down to 180F (80C) or rise up to 230F (110C). But the temperature ranges between 195F and 220F, or 90C to 105C. The average coolant temperature for most vehicles and engines is 95 degrees Celsius or 205 Fahrenheit. But what is a normal operating temperature? At that optimal temperature, all the moving parts expand just enough so that they hold oil pressure and that there is no blow past the piston rings. All internal combustion engines run optimally at a specific temperature, not too cool or too hot.
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