What is the normal temperature range for a car's coolant gauge?
2 Answers
The normal operating temperature for a car's coolant is maintained between 80~100℃. More details about car coolant temperature are as follows: 1. Within a certain range, the normal temperature is 90℃, indicating the engine has reached stable operating temperature and optimal working condition. 2. After starting the vehicle, the coolant temperature rises rapidly. When the needle reaches the central position, the heat exchange reaches equilibrium and the coolant temperature stabilizes. The best time to start driving is when the temperature reaches this middle position, which explains why we need to warm up the car before driving. 3. Overheating on the temperature gauge may indicate cooling system malfunctions, mainly including coolant leaks, insufficient coolant, radiator fan failure, or water pump circulation failure.
What I fear the most while driving is a sudden spike in the temperature gauge. The ideal normal temperature is usually between 85-95 degrees Celsius. The needle should point to the middle of the gauge—on my old car, the middle mark is 90 degrees. In summer, if it exceeds 100 degrees in traffic, the red temperature warning light on the dashboard will flash, and I must pull over and turn off the engine immediately to avoid engine seizure. Once, I forgot to add coolant, and the temperature soared to 110 degrees, with white smoke billowing from under the hood. The repair cost me nearly two thousand yuan. Now, I always check the temperature gauge before starting—when the engine is cold, the needle sits at around 50 degrees at the bottom, and it reaches normal temperature after driving for three to five minutes.
