[DeTomaso] Something is so wrong with this

[Tony DiGiovanna]

I've been following this string, amazed, confused, disappointed.  I feel
duped and naive, as I've been impressed with the stability of the coolant
temperature guage in my 2010 Mazda CX-9.
I can't remain silent any more:  There is definitely something wrong with
this!
However, I admit that the car companies are laser-focused on the market.
We, collectively, are idiots....and so we get idiot gauges in our cars now.
I used to think my good friend was over-stating it when he said, "cars have
become appliances."  He is right.
I do not plan on buying a new car ever again....I'm sticking with used
classics!
Now I've said my peace, as though the whole world has heard me and will
change...not.

-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of Charles
Engles
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2015 10:13 PM
To: detomaso at poca.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Something is so wrong with this

Dear Forum,

 

 

                I was just reading the October Grassroots Motorsports
article about their project car a new Chevy Camaro that they were modifying
and testing on the track.

 

 

               "...While enjoying the track outing, we confirmed the third
thing that had begun to concern us at Daytona: seemingly very high engine
oil temps.  After just a few laps, the oil temp indicated on the Camaro's
quad gauge pack would creep up to within a couple needle widths of the
320-degree mark.  If nothing else, this warranted some talks with Chevy.

 

                   We had a chat and exchanged some emails with one of their
powertrain engineers and learned some interesting stuff.  First the oil temp
gauge in the center cluster isn't actually measuring oil temp per se.  The
gauge actually reflects what a computer model simulation estimates the oil
temperature should be based on current information.  It takes data
parameters like ambient temp, rpm, engine load, vehicle speed, gear ,
throttle position and dozens of other data points to build a very accurate
simulation.

 

                 Amazing, yes.  But the oil is literally 3 feet from you.
It's right there.  Wouldn't it be easier to just measure the temp?  Well,
Chevy says the modeling is highly accurate and quicker to react than an
actual gauge under normal conditions.  And there's the rub.  Under typical
loads the model is exceptional, but when the variables start to greatly
exceed the normal programming thanks to strained track action, even Chevy
admits that it may not be capable of accurately predicting temps."

 

                 They then discuss the loan of the Chevy old school
thermocouple to install and double check the accuracy of virtual oil pan oil
temp reality with..an actual measurement of the actual temperature in real
time.

 

                 What is wrong with modern car manufacturers?   A computer
model simulation of the engine oil temperature?  What could ever go wrong
with that?   I am appalled and flabbergasted by such things.  I am a
Luddite.

 

                                Confused,  Chuck Engles