It seems like a small difference, but it is an important difference
When the temperature gauge between the counters points up, many drivers find that reason enough to bury their accelerator pedal in the carpet. They think that the engine is warm, and that they can pedal the car nicely. Now there’s nothing wrong with revving with a warm engine, but stomping after five minutes is too premature. The temperature gauge between the counters does not indicate the temperature of the entire engine.
It may sound like a faint difference, but it’s important to know when the engine is really warm. The gauge that almost every modern car has (except for the really lower class such as an Aygo or C1) is the temperature of the coolant. At normal outside temperatures, the coolant can reach 90 degrees after only five minutes. The point is that the oil, for which the average car does not have a temperature gauge, is not yet warm enough.
When is the engine temperature warm enough?
The engine oil is only at the optimum temperature after 15 to 20 minutes. Oil provides the lubrication of the engine and is actually the reason that the engine remains intact. When the engine is still cold, the oil is relatively thick, the lubrication is not optimal and wear occurs. If you rev too often with a cold engine, you will get internal damage that can lead to oil consumption and other misery. So always make sure that a motorcycle has been running for at least 15 minutes before you start playing sporty.
Why is the temperature gauge there?
The temperature of the coolant may not indicate when you can make more revs, but the gauge does tell you something about the engine. If the coolant temperature starts to rise above the usual value, then you know that the engine temperature is also rising too high. And overheating can also have disastrous consequences for an engine. Ideally, you should be able to see the temperature of both the coolant and the engine oil on every car (the sensor for the latter is often already in the engine). Then you have the most important information at a glance.
