Engine temperature stays the same

[SFM]

For the past year and every time and every condition I've driven my Stinger, the engine's temperature stayed the same. The needle of the temperature gauge stays a tad before the centre after warming up the engine, whether I'm driving normally, driving very hard, or flooring it until the top speed multiple times in a row, or even using launch control thrice in a row. Out of curiosity, why is that happening? Does this mean the engine cuts power when it's getting hotter to keep it at the same temperature?

I have the 2.0T engine, but I've also noticed in many videos in YouTube and in pictures that the engine temperature stays at the same place for both the 2.0 and 3.3 engines which is something I couldn't understand.

 

[MerlintheMad]

For the past year and every time and every condition I've driven my Stinger, the engine's temperature stayed the same. The needle of the temperature gauge stays a tad before the centre after warming up the engine, whether I'm driving normally, driving very hard, or flooring it until the top speed multiple times in a row, or even using launch control thrice in a row. Out of curiosity, why is that happening? Does this mean the engine cuts power when it's getting hotter to keep it at the same temperature?

I have the 2.0T engine, but I've also noticed in many videos in YouTube and in pictures that the engine temperature stays at the same place for both the 2.0 and 3.3 engines which is something I couldn't understand.

Ah, I can answer this one. Only recently did I realize (after half a century of driving) that the temperature gauge on the dash is the water temperature, not the engine.

My temperature gauge always shows at just above the line to the left of center.

The engine cooling system in this car is very good!

A closer measure of how hot your engine is getting is the oil temperature. And I noticed just last week that keeping my trans in a lower gear, i.e. high revs, definitely raised the oil temperature. Normally it sits to just either side of 200 degrees. My "experiment" raised it to c. 220.

 

[eflyguy]

Does this mean the engine cuts power when it's getting hotter to keep it at the same temperature?

No, the thermostat opens when necessary to maintain correct operating temperature. That is how vehicle engines are designed.

 

[oddball]

Actually, it's more nefarious than that. Temp gauges haven't shown real temp for years. Rather, they indicate whether or not the ECU thinks the engine is at a normal or acceptable temp. You can get the real temp reading by using a scan tool. Usually anything in the 190 to 210 (or higher!) range is considered normal. So instead of moving the bar all the time, which caused drivers great concern and service tickets, the electronic gauges just show "It's All OK!"
E.g., on my LS, "Normal" is all the way from 190 to 225!

 

[oddball]

A closer measure of how hot your engine is getting is the oil temperature. And I noticed just last week that keeping my trans in a lower gear, i.e. high revs, definitely raised the oil temperature. Normally it sits to just either side of 200 degrees. My "experiment" raised it to c. 220.

Good point. This car uses a oil to water cooler, so the oil temp and coolant temp, in general, will be the same or very close. The oil temp gauge gives a slightly (slightly) more accurate view of reality as they don't do the fake-out, but the display isn't exactly detailed.
So was it the oil pushing the engine to 220 or the engine getting to 220 just because it was working hard? (the engine temp gauge would still just show "OK!") six of one, half dozen of the other. In any case, 220 is still a perfectly acceptable temp for a modern engine, especially with synthetic oil.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Good point. This car uses a oil to water cooler, so the oil temp and coolant temp, in general, will be the same or very close. The oil temp gauge gives a slightly (slightly) more accurate view of reality as they don't do the fake-out, but the display isn't exactly detailed.
So was it the oil pushing the engine to 220 or the engine getting to 220 just because it was working hard? (the engine temp gauge would still just show "OK!") six of one, half dozen of the other. In any case, 220 is still a perfectly acceptable temp for a modern engine, especially with synthetic oil.

As far as I know, my oil is just bog standard, not synthetic.

Lately, I drive with my "Gauges" LCD up almost all the time. That's how I finally noticed the raising of oil temperature when I kept the RPMs midrange for an extended period of time.

 

[MichStingerGT1]

Hi I need some guidance. So I started my car from cold start and my oil temp gauge went from cold to driving temps while I watches it in 20 seconds. What can cause this?

 

[JSolo]

Can oil temp be monitored via generic OBD? 2.5T stingers don't have the fancy gt gauges .

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hi I need some guidance. So I started my car from cold start and my oil temp gauge went from cold to driving temps while I watches it in 20 seconds. What can cause this?

That is the fastest warming car ever heard of. The real question is, does the oil temperature continue to go up well above 200F?

 

[RogueIV]

Hi I need some guidance. So I started my car from cold start and my oil temp gauge went from cold to driving temps while I watches it in 20 seconds. What can cause this?

are you sure that's oil temp or oil pressure.

 

[JSolo]

Can oil temp be monitored via generic OBD? 2.5T stingers don't have the fancy gt gauges .

To answer my own question, no, not with torque or obd fusion. At least not without the proper pid entries. So other options?

 

[nhcowboy28]

To answer my own question, no, not with torque or obd fusion. At least not without the proper pid entries. So other options?

I use my fingers to measure oil temp.

But you can only do it ten times.