Have we ever NOT been at Homeland Security Threat Level Orange?

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

But the gauge isn't any better than an warning light, because the way most OEM's make them work is, there's only 2 positions the needle can be: Normal, or dead. To get a gauge that actually works the way it should, you need to buy an aftermarket one.

Are you sure about that? Any temp gauge I have seen will be on the bottom peg at a cold start up and will slowly rise to normal temp over the course of 5 minutes or so. Do they just program that in to fuck with people or is it actually measuring something, like the coolant temp?

I have less experience with modern cars actually running hot, but a late 80s Accord with a broken thermostat and an early 2000s Explorer with a leaking radiator both had fully functional temperature gauges. The gauge was especially helpful in the Accord as I had another 200 miles to go and it was the middle of summer. I could turn the heat on and off as needed to remove extra heat from the engine. I wouldn't have been able to do so with just an idiot light.

[Amber Lamps]

God Dammit! How in the fuck did I get sucked back into this bullshit argument?!?

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by goof2

Are you sure about that? Any temp gauge I have seen will be on the bottom peg at a cold start up and will slowly rise to normal temp over the course of 5 minutes or so. Do they just program that in to fuck with people or is it actually measuring something, like the coolant temp?

The gauge just sits there at zero for the first couple minutes, then all of a sudden when the thermostat opens, it finally starts moving, and goes up to the "normal" position and stays in the exact same place throughout your trip. You could be sitting in stop and go traffic, or cruising on the highway, but the needle stays frozen in the same spot. At least in most cars I've driven. Not to mention they don't give you any markings on the gauge to indicate what the temperature is.

Same thing with oil pressure gauges. Only on certain sports cars is the gauge actually marked with any PSI measurements, and on most cars you don't even see the needle moving in response to blipping the throttle, as it should.

Anyway, it's just an analogy. A measurement that never changes in response to current events is meaningless and does not generate involvement or interest from the public in any way.

[Tmall]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The gauge just sits there at zero for the first couple minutes, then all of a sudden when the thermostat opens, it finally starts moving, and goes up to the "normal" position and stays in the exact same place throughout your trip. You could be sitting in stop and go traffic, or cruising on the highway, but the needle stays frozen in the same spot. At least in most cars I've driven. Not to mention they don't give you any markings on the gauge to indicate what the temperature is.

Same thing with oil pressure gauges. Only on certain sports cars is the gauge actually marked with any PSI measurements, and on most cars you don't even see the needle moving in response to blipping the throttle, as it should.

Anyway, it's just an analogy. A measurement that never changes in response to current events is meaningless and does not generate involvement or interest from the public in any way.

I'm pretty sure your oil pump is mechanically driven. So I understand what you're saying. But in most cases there should be a pressure regulating valve/spring that just bleeds off anything above a certain pressure. Once a preset limit is reached, it doesn't exceed it.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The gauge just sits there at zero for the first couple minutes, then all of a sudden when the thermostat opens, it finally starts moving, and goes up to the "normal" position and stays in the exact same place throughout your trip. You could be sitting in stop and go traffic, or cruising on the highway, but the needle stays frozen in the same spot. At least in most cars I've driven. Not to mention they don't give you any markings on the gauge to indicate what the temperature is.

Same thing with oil pressure gauges. Only on certain sports cars is the gauge actually marked with any PSI measurements, and on most cars you don't even see the needle moving in response to blipping the throttle, as it should.

Anyway, it's just an analogy. A measurement that never changes in response to current events is meaningless and does not generate involvement or interest from the public in any way.

From watching the gauge creep up on cold days so the heat can be used instead of just circulating cold air I can tell you none of the cars I have driven with a temp gauge do what you are describing above.

OK, so what system would you suggest for impressing on the American public the need to be aware? Also as I asked before, if you think Airport security is too onerous where do you think cuts should be made?