Temperature differences on morning commute

Slogger Jogger

Temperature gauge in car said -9.5 this morning setting off from outside Aughrim Co. Wicklow. By the time I got to N11 and up towards Cabinteely it was up to 0 degrees. On a good day thats an hours commute, today it was 90 mins. Its circa 60 kms. Some temperature difference. Anyone else experience a greater range?

Victor

Car temperature gauges aren't particularly accurate as the car generates its own heat and on a sunny day it can become hotter than the things around it.

Slogger Jogger

Victor wrote: »

Car temperature gauges aren't particularly accurate as the car generates its own heat and on a sunny day it can become hotter than the things around it.

Its pretty accurate. Has checked out vs NRA website temps in recent days etc.

Darwin

I think I can go one better On the first cold spell in early December I was driving on the N80 towards Carlow. The temperature was 2c at Ballylehane (just beyond Stradbally). Five minutes up the road in Arles the temperature dropped to -10c. Freezing fog was the culprit, but it was some drop in such a short distance!

isle of man

have to say my temp read out on my 15 year old pajero is spot on.

checked it with at least 6 outside temps and its reading the same as them.

so id say most incar ones are good

Dero123

I left Athy on Tuesday morning and it read minus 13.5 got to work in Citywest at 8.30 and it was minus 0.5

mickger844posts

Don't want to open another thread but i was wondering if a temperature sensor was at 1 meter and another at 4 meters would there be much difference in the temperature readings ???

crosstownk

Victor wrote: »

Car temperature gauges aren't particularly accurate as the car generates its own heat and on a sunny day it can become hotter than the things around it.

That really depends on the fitting location of the sensor but in general I find them accurate enough (with the exception of Volvo).

I left my house yesterday morning and the temperature indicated was -4ºC. It dropped to -7ºC when I got to Lucan. I drove on to Clonee where it read -10ºC and it was -9ºC when I stopped in Damastown.

Pangea

Pangea wrote: »

Its a rough guide I think really, sometimes its inaccurate as DeepEast told me the heat gets trapped in the bumper a lot too and with the tarmac it can read inaccurately sometimes.
Also if you just start the car the tempertures are not accurate it has to be moving for a while, the last day when I started it it said 14c because the sun was shining and it wasnt moving so it wasnt getting any air exposure.

Above post I posted yesturday on the site in response to a similar question with regard to car temperature readings. Bascially its not very accurate but it gives you a general indication of what temperature it is, I find it is out by a degree or two sometimes with comparison to my own thermometer..

To get back on track with the actual thread question, without a doubt 60kms is a huge distance with regards to different temperatures, Im prob 60kms from Killygordan , and when its -16 there I probably have -9 or at best -10.

4Sheets

Cloud cover could be one reason !
Also Ive seen after heavy showers it seems to be followed by a blast of mild air,roofs drip but an hour later its -4..crazy weather

wow sierra

Tuesday morning 10 mile approx commute -Balbriggan Swords

-2.5 Balbriggan, -8.5 M1, -6.5 Swords Freeky stuff - possible due to proximity to sea.

bmw535d

if i sit in traffic my shogun reads up to 25c+ because of the heat of the engine on the temp sensor. but once i start moving its dead on as i have checked it against a digital thermometer

Victor

mickger844posts wrote: »

Don't want to open another thread but i was wondering if a temperature sensor was at 1 meter and another at 4 meters would there be much difference in the temperature readings ???

By themselves, not a lot. However, if it meant the difference between being sheltered or exposed, wind chill and direct sunlight would make a difference.

Temperature only drops about 1 degree per 150 metres altitude.