What Does the Temperature Display on the Car Indicate?
2 Answers
The temperature displayed on the car refers to the coolant temperature. This gauge is called the water temperature gauge, and its unit is Celsius. The car engine's coolant uses a specialized cooling liquid. More information about car gauges is as follows: 1. Speedometer: The speedometer is positioned in the most prominent place on the dashboard, indicating the car's current speed in km/h, as well as the total mileage and trip mileage in km. The total mileage cannot be altered, while the trip mileage can be reset as needed. 2. Tachometer: The engine tachometer indicates the current engine speed in rpm (revolutions per minute). 3. Oil Pressure Gauge: This gauge indicates the oil pressure in the main oil passage of the engine lubrication system while the engine is running. 4. Fuel Gauge: This gauge displays the amount of fuel in the tank in liters (L). The pointer pointing to "F" indicates a full tank, while pointing to "E" indicates an empty tank. Some gauges use 1/1, 1/2, and 0 to represent a full tank, half a tank, and an empty tank, respectively.
The temperature number displayed on the car usually refers to the actual measured value inside the vehicle, which is read in real time by a small sensor installed near the dashboard. I rely heavily on this reading while driving because it tells me whether it's hot or cold inside, directly affecting comfort. If the car has an automatic air conditioning system, pressing the AUTO button will make the system adjust the airflow direction and volume based on this displayed temperature and the set target temperature—for example, in winter, you can turn the temperature knob up a couple of degrees if you want it warmer; in summer, lowering it a bit can cool things down faster. Inaccurate readings are a common issue, such as when the car is parked outside under the sun for too long—the sensor might get heated up, showing a higher temperature. In such cases, I usually drive for a while to let it recalibrate. Regularly cleaning the sensor area to prevent dust buildup is also essential, as blocked sensors can mislead the system and reduce air conditioning efficiency, wasting energy. Don’t forget, maintaining the right temperature isn’t just about comfort—it also helps reduce driver fatigue and improve safety, like avoiding drowsiness and accidents on hot days. During vehicle maintenance, I always remind myself to check the entire air conditioning system to ensure everything is working properly.
