Grunty

Why is it that the temperature readout on my car reads around 21-22 farenheit despite the temperature being much colder? Is an unheated garage somehow warmer than the outside ambient temp?
The other morning is was 5 degrees and it read 22, this am it was 13 and it read 21. This is with the car engine off.
I am assuming the gauge on the car is correct and that somehow the temperature in the garage is higher despite nothing inside generating heat. Not a porsche specific question, but baffling to me.

Porsche_nuts

Any enclosed space, protected from wind, is going to be warmer.

LexVan

Your house is "heating" your garage. As is your hot car parked in the garage.

todd92

Attached garage is warmed by the house. Detached garage should be the same temperature as outside.

Jay-S

This happens even with a carport. A little bit of protection from the elements goes a long ways. I've never had to scrape my windshield even when cars on the street are frosted up. Granted I live in Atlanta so it usually doesn't get that much below freezing.

jimbo1111

The ground radiates some heat and is trapped in by the enclose. Ground temps below the frost line are usually around 50 deg.

Grunty

Detached and un insulated, interestingly enough. I am going to go with somehow the concrete slab retains some heat. I will try measuring its temp.
Thanks for the replies.

Grunty

I did not know that.

LexVan

You park a hot 911 in the garage. All that radiant has to go somewhere. There's +6 gallons of hot coolant and anther 2 gallons of hot oil. And a +400 pound block of hot metal.

Grunty

Yah but car is cold overnight.

Grunty

While we are on the subject, given that cars generate heat, where do they put the temperature sensor?

LexVan

Exactly. Where do you think the heat went?

Grunty

Well it's a dozen hours later in an Un-insulated garage with the side door open. Overnight temps in single digits. Heat goes up afaik. I suspect that the heat from the cooling engine dissipates out the roof, mainly. No greenhouse effect because it's dark.
Maybe I'll park it in the driveway tonight and see what happens (shudder).

LexVan

After 12 hours. Then it will read +\- 2 degrees to the actual air temp.

You want an accurate reading? Pull up your digital oil temp and digital coolant temps on your MFD and compare all 4.

Grunty

Good idea!