Is This Normal?

I probably shouldn't compare the cooling system between our trucks and a car, but it has got me wondering.

My commute to school involves driving on the highway, 25 miles both home and back. On cooler/cool days my volvo's engine temp gauge usually reads at least a tick down from the middle after driving on the highway for a while. Now I know that isn't really a bad thing, I was just wondering why it's like that. When I drive my truck the engine temp needle doesn't change much. My friend suggested that the cooling system in my car is more efficient than the one in my truck, but it is an older car and has me puzzled. In fact, the SGII just shows only a few degrees in drop. In the truck, my normal operating temp is 184F, on the highway on a cooler day is 181F

The picture was from today, it was actually half-way between the 3rd and 4th tick mark...the engine just started warming up more as i was idling at a light.

 

Wait, you aren't saying that my gauges are inaccurate are you?!

 

So would that mean the readings on my SGII (I keep that on the truck) is off too?

 

I have never ever seen my temp gauge fluctuate once I get to operating temperature.

In my mom's Benz, in the 2 BMW I have owned in the past, my sister's honda, in my friends Jetta, my cousin's Tourage, uncle's GMC sierra, they have all varied in indication depending on idle, engine load, and outside temperature.

Meaning, Tacoma's temp gauge is pretty much a dummy indicator (unless the cooling system is that awesome that it can maintain a steady temp no matter what)

Use your scangauge to monitor your temp.

 

Lol a "fake" temp gauge. Good going toyota...

Yeah I've noticed this with other cars too, I just found it odd how my tacoma doesn't really change either. oh well.

 

See, I miss cars like that with the "real gauges"

We had an old 93 4Runner that had all those gauges like that (oil pressure, voltmeter, and etc.). Now most cars only have a speedo, tach, engine temp and fuel gauge.

And I have another question, it's related to the tacoma, but I don't want to open a whole new thread on the 2nd gen section...I've noticed recently that in the mornings my truck smells like it's burning oil or it's not burning the gasoline right, but I don't see any blue smoke. It's been going on for a while now, and it never had this distinct smell to it on cold starts. After the engine has warmed up the smell is gone.

Whats causing that smell?

 

Wait, our temp gauge is fake??? D:

This is news to me

 

Not exactly "fake"

Just some cars have more accurate gauges than ours.

That's why I usually depend on my SGII to show my temps!

 

My BMW 335i used to run ridiculously hot. So hot that the needle would be pinned in the red constantly. BMW said it was ok in spite of protests worldwide, so the next year they re-calibrated the gauge on all new 335's which still run hot but you'll never know.
Just learn your gauge and monitor your range...the #'s are just superfluous.

 

Maybe they ought to replace it with an idiot light like in the 2008+ Subie Imprezas:
Blue light when the coolant's cold.
No light in normal operating range.
Red light when the coolant's too hot.

 

Old Beetle? What does the temp sensor measure on an air-cooled engine? Oil temp?

 

My Honda had that. I hated it.

The truck has a more consistent airflow over the radiator with the belt-driven fan. The car has an electric fan that will likely not turn on until the coolant temperature is 200F or more. That's the biggest reason for the variance IMO.