How does your temperature gauge act?

[jsevinsk]

I've had my 2004 VUE since January. In sub-zero weather, within a few minutes, the temperature gauge settles about 1/4 of the way between 1/4 and 1/2. (I guess that would be 5/16.) On a hot July day near 100, it also settled in the same place. Is that normal?

I do own a ScanGauge that I bought from http://www.scangauge.com/. If I used it to check the coolant temperature, what should it be?

John

[2004NJVue]

Mine usually settles in around 3/8...around the same area as 5/16. It has never gone over the half mark yet. This is in the heat and humidy and the cold. I was amazed when I first got my Vue in the winter at how quick it warmed up to that point...now I am amazed that it never goes over that temp. I've just assumed it was normal. Hopefully mu assumption will not make an *** out of u and me

[Jeff03Vue]

Mine really doesn't change muchy either, even in the really hot weather we have been having lately. But I have the 4 cyl

[OhioVueBoy]

It's pretty normal... it does a very good job of regulating itself. Even towing in 100+ degree weather with the A/C cranked, I have yet to see mine get anywhere close the 1/2 mark...

I think the 4 cylinders might have it a bit easier though - the cooling system that has to cool a good sized 6 crammed under the hood, has no trouble with a decent sized 4 cyl.

Many times I will leave here and find my gauge at the 1/4 point from sitting in the lot all day.... I know it works because it moved, but it is either being heated by ambient temps, or it is holding heat all day.

~D.J.~

[2004NJVue]

Originally Posted by OhioVueBoy

It's pretty normal...
Many times I will leave here and find my gauge at the 1/4 point from sitting in the lot all day.... I know it works because it moved, but it is either being heated by ambient temps, or it is holding heat all day.

~D.J.~

Mine is the same way.

[1saxman]

jsevinsk; What you are experiencing is the manifestation of an excellent cooling system. My 2003 V6 VUE temp gauge almost never goes above the normal spot. Today at lunchtime I sat in the parking lot in the full sun, 95 degrees out, after driving around running errands, with the AC on full blast, engine idling, making a cell phone call for about 20 minutes, and the gauge never moved above the normal spot, just as you described, about 25% above the quarter mark. I found this incredible, and have never had a car that would do that. Conversely, the thermostat lets it heat up fast in the winter and holds the same setting regardless of how cold it is. Believe me, if you ever see that gauge start to go up higher than the halfway point, you better believe there's a problem and act accordingly.

[Tom92SCm]

ONe way to have an efficient running engine is to have an engine running at its optimal operating temperature. And the sooner you get it there, the less time it spends operating in the inefficient range- most of the pollution created by an engine is created as it warms up. Therefore automakers have been researching how to keep the coolant warm after the vehicle has been shut off. I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised, if the VUE is implementing some of these concepts. I too have noticed my temp gauge never moving and warming up quickly after it's sat for long periods of time- even in the winter.

I've been tempted to install an aftermarket temp gauge to more accurately see what's going on. OEM gauges can be set to filter out fluctuations that they see and just report an average.

--Tom

[sspeer]

My temp likes to stay around 180 (scangauge).

The Cobalt that I'm renting for vacation likes to stick around 190. From what I understand...the engines are more efficient at higher temps. At least that's what all the better mpg sites and forums say. They always recommend changing to a 195 degree thermostat..but that's a whole other thread..

[binkybaby]

Around 190-195 is normal; mine never fluctuates but i notice it goes up to operating temp rather quickly. i notice mine hanging about the exact same place as u r reporting-about 1/3 of the way away from the "C". That cooling system must work wonders helping the Ecotec keep its cool (and me too) in the frying pan of Texas.........

[jsevinsk]

OK, so I hooked up my ScanGauge this morning and drove to work. Within a few minutes, it reached 180. It went between 179 and 182 for the rest of the trip. When I stoped for lights, it went up into the 190s, but it went back down to 180 once I started moving again.

So, what's all this then about 195? It's supposed to be better? Was the VUE's engine designed for 180 for some reason?

John

[OhioVueBoy]

Different engines have different requirements. Most GM engines nowaways have a 195 degree thermostat in them. Back when I had my Beretta, people would pop a 180 degree 'stat in the 3100s, and it would richen the mix and grab .2 or so in the 1/4 mile... at the expense of heat, and an eventual SES light.
~D.J.~

[runerx]

Part of it is the fact that its an all aluminum engine. The aluminum heats easily and there is no difference in the rate at which the metal conducts/tranfers heat. Plus the aluminum allows for a decent amount of air cooling.

Dave

[JPG]

You mean this thing really works? I was wondering cause i only see it going up the 1/4 , l;ike everyone else here, and never moves even in 45c temp, with A/C on full...I thought it was a toy gauge....

[Ghostrider]

I thought it was one of the common 'dummy' gauges that manufacturers install nowdays. They aren't actually calibrated, and only have 2 or 3 positions; cold, normal, and overheating. I've never seen mine move from it's normal spot like others described, even in 118 degree heat, sitting in traffic with the AC on. It stays in the same spot in the winter at 20 degrees. If this is an accurate gauge, then the rumors of the Red Line Vue not being able to tow because of overheating are pure BS.

[1saxman]

I've never read such a crock of crap. You'd think you guys never had a car before or know anything at all about them. 'Dummy gauges'? '2 or 3 positions'? 'Retaining heat when turned off'? Jeez. They give you a cooling system that works, and you sit around and make up crap to try to explain why it can't be just that. 'All aluminum'? Maybe some engines are, but mine's the iron-block GM L81 V6.