Is the Outside Temperature Displayed in a Car Accurate?
1 Answers
Car Outside Temperature Displayed on the Dashboard is Not Accurate. The temperature released by meteorological departments is measured based on the air circulating in a louvered box without direct sunlight, using a thermometer as the measuring tool. In contrast, the outside temperature displayed on a vehicle's dashboard is measured via a temperature sensor. The outside temperature sensor is typically installed behind the engine intake grille, in front of the radiator. It measures the temperature of the airflow passing through this area. There are three main reasons why the dashboard temperature is inaccurate: 1. Different Airflow Velocities: Since the temperature sensor is installed behind the intake grille (i.e., the front grille), the temperature readings differ when the car is stationary versus when it is moving due to variations in airflow velocity. 2. Influence of Engine Heat Source: As the outside temperature sensor is located at the front of the car, it is affected by the engine's heat source. The air temperature near the engine and radiator is inevitably higher than the ambient atmospheric temperature. 3. NTC Thermistor: The principle of the outside temperature sensor generally relies on an NTC thermistor to measure temperature. NTC stands for Negative Temperature Coefficient, meaning the resistance decreases as the temperature increases.