# Car temp question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-temp-question/230124>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 20, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-temp-question/230124 "2004-02-20T01:47:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Future\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Future\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Future_Kid)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-temp-question/230124/1 "2004-02-20T01:47:17Z")

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My girlfriend has just bought a second hand car. When I drive it around town for about half an hour the temp gauge goes up and hangs around the normal area. After leaving town and getting onto the motorway it then falls back into the cold region.

Should this be happening?

It’s a liquid cooled engine, not air. So surely the amount and speed of air shouldn’t make a difference, or should it?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-temp-question/230124/2 "2004-02-20T01:53:38Z")

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Driving forces air through the radiator, which cools the water, which cools the engine.

Letting a car idle for long periods without moving can cause it to overheat, but only if the cooling system is not up to snuff.

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-temp-question/230124/3 "2004-02-20T02:54:30Z")

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Also, driving in stop and go traffic is similar to just letting the car idle. There should be an electric fan which will keep the car from overheating.

I once had a car that began to overheat in stop and go Chicago traffic. I managed to get it home by passing everybody on the shoulder, increasing the airflow and cooling the engine. Illegal yes, and it pissed off a lot of people, but it kept me from breaking down right there on the interstate.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-temp-question/230124/4 "2004-02-20T02:57:41Z")

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> [@Eleusis](#):
>
> Also, driving in stop and go traffic is similar to just letting the car idle. There should be an electric fan which will keep the car from overheating.
> 
> I once had a car that began to overheat in stop and go Chicago traffic. I managed to get it home by passing everybody on the shoulder, increasing the airflow and cooling the engine. Illegal yes, and it pissed off a lot of people, but it kept me from breaking down right there on the interstate.

You could have also turned on your heater full blast. I had a '92 Grand Am that overheated if a butterfly farted on it. I was able to draw off a lot of heat from the engine by cranking up the heater. Uncomfortable? Yes. Better that than a blown engine.

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-temp-question/230124/5 "2004-02-20T02:59:00Z")

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Actually I did 😉 Forgot to mention that little tidbit.