Why Your Car's Temperature Display Jumps Around So Much
Sunday, January 25, 2026
| January 25, 2026 | |||||
| | |||||
What Your Car Thermometer Actually Measures (And Doesn't)You're driving on a winter morning and your car reads 28°F. Minutes later on the highway it shows 32°F. At a rest stop it drops to 26°F. Downtown it jumps to 35°F. These rapid swings seem impossible—and you're right, actual air temperature isn't changing that fast. Your car's sensor measures a complex mix of air temperature, road heat, engine warmth, and exhaust—not true air temperature. Why Car Thermometers Are Inaccurate:
When Readings Are Most/Least Accurate: How to Use It Wisely: Discover why the reading when moving is closer to reality than when stopped, learn which conditions produce reasonable accuracy, and understand why your 34°F and the weather report's 28°F are both "correct" for what they're measuring. | |||||
Check Your Local WeatherGet your personalized forecast and hourly updates |
|
posted by Myrna Sophia at 2:48 PM
![]()

0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home