What is the internal operating temperature of a car engine?
2 Answers
Car engine internal operating temperature ranges from 2000 to 2500 degrees Celsius. The upper part of the engine cylinder wall is between 120 to 370 degrees Celsius; the lower part of the cylinder wall is below 150 degrees Celsius; the piston top ranges from 210 to 425 degrees Celsius; and the combustion chamber temperature is between 2000 to 2500 degrees Celsius. When a car engine is operating, it generates a significant amount of heat. The outer part of the cylinder is cooled by coolant and air, and engine oil also carries away some of the heat. Due to the different working conditions and structures of various engine components, their temperatures also vary. The car engine is the power-generating device of the car, serving as the heart of the vehicle, and determines its power, fuel efficiency, stability, and environmental performance.
This issue needs to be addressed by examining different parts of the engine separately. A normal coolant temperature gauge fluctuating between 85-105°C is considered safe, as this represents the temperature of the antifreeze circulating in the cooling system. However, the internal parts of the engine get much hotter—gasoline combustion in the cylinders can momentarily exceed 2000°C, and the piston heads operate under temperatures of 300-400°C, which is why engine oil needs to circulate vigorously for cooling. Manufacturers use special alloys for high-temperature components in their designs, so it's normal for areas like the exhaust manifold to feel scalding to the touch. Once, a friend of mine mistakenly thought smoke indicated a malfunction, but the technician explained it was just the normal red-hot condition of the turbocharger—as long as the coolant temperature and oil pressure are normal, there's no need to panic.
