# car question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312 "2003-07-18T03:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/1 "2003-07-18T03:49:17Z")
Today, I guess after sitting still for 15 minutes with my engine running and the car in park, I guess the temp went above the middle notch in the gauge a little. Well, I went to turn off the engine, the engine shut off, but it seemed the fan didn’t. However, when I drove downt he road which I guess ran the engine coolent through the engine, it cooled down and the fan didn’t stay on after I turned the engine off. Is this a normal thing, or a new feature of cars nowadays, or is this a serious problem? I heard Honda cars doing the same thing so I know it just isn’t because I have a Chevy. So, I was just wondering. Please help, and don’t make fun of my car. I know I might be hanging a kickme sign on me, but I’m worried about this and I just want someone to say it’s normal. Thank you very much in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/2 "2003-07-18T03:54:09Z")
It’s normal. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/3 "2003-07-18T03:55:09Z")
It’s an electric fan programmed to turn on at certain temperatures. On my car the fan cuts in on slow at 94 C and on fast at 104 C. If it’s running and I stop the car it sometimes runs for a couple of minutes after the engine stops. That’s meant to happen. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/4 "2003-07-18T04:01:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*It’s an electric fan programmed to turn on at certain temperatures. On my car the fan cuts in on slow at 94 C and on fast at 104 C. If it’s running and I stop the car it sometimes runs for a couple of minutes after the engine stops. That’s meant to happen. \*\* That’s a load off. Thanks. I just never ever had that happen to me. I just wonder why it reached that temperature just by sitting in park. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/5 "2003-07-18T04:21:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kputt \* > \*\*I just wonder why it reached that temperature just by sitting in park. \*\* Engines generate plenty of heat whenever they’re running. If they’re working (propelling the car), they generate heat faster than if they’re sitting still idling, but usually not so that you’d notice the difference. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/6 "2003-07-18T04:27:17Z")
Actually most cars generate more heat sitting still than moving as no air is flowing through the radiator. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/7 "2003-07-18T04:29:01Z")
Idling is the great heat killer of cars, because when you’re not moving, but the engine is running, you’re generating haet while not getting the cooling benefit of airflow across the radiator _unless_ your car is designed with a fan that keeps the air flowing in a stopped condition. I think most modern cars are so equipped these days. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/8 "2003-07-18T04:34:26Z")
LOL **kputt** started a thread about a car that’s _kaput_! [sub]Ruby wanders out of thread still giggling. Doesn’t take much to amuse her…:D[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/9 "2003-07-18T13:10:30Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![SexyHamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SexyHamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SexyHamster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/10 "2003-07-18T16:09:37Z")
On a similar note: If you’re in an older car in rush hour traffic and you notice your engine temperature climbing you can often help it cool off by turning on your car’s heater full blast. Actually, I’ve driven a few cars that would only run properly if you had the heater on all the time. It works well enough. The only problem is trying to explain to your passengers that it only works if all the vents are facing the passenger side. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/11 "2003-07-18T16:24:10Z")
It’s a 2003 cavalier. It’s a new car. I just never ever had that happen to any of my cars before and it just scared me I checked to see if my engine coolent was low, but it was still full (to the line). It didn’t get that warm, but it went over the middle notch. Thanks for calming my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/12 "2003-07-18T16:25:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ruby \* > \*\*LOL > > **kputt** started a thread about a car that’s _kaput_! > > [sub]Ruby wanders out of thread still giggling. Doesn’t take much to amuse her…:D[/sub] \*\* My car isn’t kaput. It’s just fine and perfect.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/13 "2003-07-18T16:27:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ringo \* > \*\*your car is designed with a fan that keeps the air flowing in a stopped condition. I think most modern cars are so equipped these days. \*\* I think that’s what kicked the fan on. The engine didn’t overheat or anything, just got a little bit warmer than it normally does. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/14 "2003-07-18T22:07:33Z")
Why not read the owners manual kputt? after all, it is a new car, Im sure it came with one. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/15 "2003-07-18T23:15:58Z")
Okay, I’ll do it. Nyah, nyah, nyah, your car is stupid… What a lemon! What a maroon! What a nin-cow-poop! I can’t believe you bought such a piece of crap! What? You all know you wanted to do it first… ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/16 "2003-07-19T03:17:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*Okay, I’ll do it. Nyah, nyah, nyah, your car is stupid… What a lemon! What a maroon! What a nin-cow-poop! I can’t believe you bought such a piece of crap! > > What? You all know you wanted to do it first… \*\* It sure isn’t a lemon, and it isn’t stupid. > [@](#): > > What a nin-cow-poop! I can’t believe you bought such a piece of crap I didn’t buy a Honda you know.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/17 "2003-07-19T11:44:33Z")
I bet you a dozen donuts that if you look at your fan/radiator assembly under your hood, there will be a big-ass warning sticker along the lines of “WARNING - FANS CAN START AT ANY TIME. DISCONNECT BATTERY BEFORE SERVICING”. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-question/189312/18 "2003-07-19T12:06:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anonymous Coward \* > \*\*I bet you a dozen donuts that if you look at your fan/radiator assembly under your hood, there will be a big-ass warning sticker along the lines of “WARNING - FANS CAN START AT ANY TIME. DISCONNECT BATTERY BEFORE SERVICING”. \*\* you’re right, so I’m not going to bet you. All cars have those. YOu are going to find out that I worry too much about things.