Temp gauge, real?

[Screamin'3]

I have noticed that my engine warms up rapidly. After startup and maybe 1-2 minutes idle, it's gets to operating temp in about 2-3 blocks. I had an old Volvo like that, but the heatercore was on the engine side of the thermostat.

My question is; is the temp gauge a real analog gauge or is it like the oil pressure gauge in the '95+ Miata, an idiot lite that looks like a gauge?

 

[PeteyBoy3K]

I would venture forth and say its a quage, because I have seen the needle at all points between cold and operating temp when I got back in the car to take a trip before it had a chance to cool down completely... and it would still take 2-3 blocks to get back up to operating temp. Also, when I forgot something and turned around (real short trip) the needle was always just above the resting point.

 

[Screamin'3]

An update:
My car threw a CEL a month ago and the dealer said it was the thermostat stuck open. I guess that's why the car warmed up so quickly. It still does, but not as fast now.

 

[djltoronto]

An update:
My car threw a CEL a month ago and the dealer said it was the thermostat stuck open. I guess that's why the car warmed up so quickly. It still does, but not as fast now.

Thermostats that are stuck open cause the car to warm up slower, if at all.

 

[RonH]

Aluminum engines tend to warm up fast, especially down south. Mine warms up in a couple of blocks.

 

[Airman Jack]

down south your car warms up faster because it's NOT COLD OUTSIDE... geez you guys south of the 49th have a weird understanding of the meaning of "cold" (canada)

 

[20mazda3]

right on

down south your car warms up faster because it's NOT COLD OUTSIDE... geez you guys south of the 49th have a weird understanding of the meaning of "cold" (canada)

you're absolutely right.. I live in texas but that's just common sense I think everyone replying is right.. stuck thermostat = slower warm up, aluminum block = faster warm up and that's all there is to it