| Most of us drive a car every day, but how many | | | | or of a blockage. In any event, the key is that |
| of us pay much attention to the instrument | | | | you cannot drive the car that way for long or |
| panels in our car. Sure, we all pay attention to the | | | | you may seize up the engine or break something |
| speedometer so that we do not get pulled over, | | | | inside that will cost you a whole new engine. |
| and even then sometimes we do not pay close | | | | A tachometer gauge is the gauge that tells you |
| enough attention to keep ourselves from getting | | | | the RPM's (revolutions per minute that the crank |
| pulled over and getting that speeding ticket. | | | | of the engine is turning). This is important, |
| So what should you be paying attention to in your | | | | because the higher the RPM's, the faster |
| cars gauges, more importantly, why? First, they | | | | everything is turning and in turn, is more |
| are there to educate you about the condition of | | | | vulnerable to breaking. Street cars generally run |
| the car as we drive down the road. They can | | | | between 2000-3000 RPM's while driving down the |
| alert you about any possible problems that are | | | | road, reaching no more than 5000-6000 RPM's |
| coming up. | | | | when getting the car to speed in a lower gear. |
| Most of us do pay attention, at least to some | | | | For some comparison, NASCAR race cars run |
| degree, at our speedometer and our gas gauge. | | | | around 8000-9000 RPM's and Indy cars run |
| However, many vehicles today do not have much | | | | between 12,000-13,000 RPM's. |
| more in the way of "gauges", but rather have | | | | Another car gauge, less common, is the oil |
| "warning lights". I am sure that the auto makers | | | | temperature gauge. We have talked about oil |
| have discovered that the average driver never | | | | pressure and water temperature already, but oil |
| looked at the other gauges and were not | | | | temperature can also indicate some potential |
| educated about when they should be concerned, | | | | trouble. If the oil temperature in the engine is too |
| so likely decided that warning lights were likely a | | | | hot, it will break down and lose its lubricating ability. |
| better route to getting the drivers attention when | | | | That problem with the oil can again, mean big |
| there was something that needed attention. | | | | trouble and possibly destroying an engine. This |
| If your vehicle does still have gauges, you should | | | | gauge is less common because the oil |
| pay attention to the water temperature gauge to | | | | temperature will generally be fine as long as the |
| make sure that the car is not getting too hot. | | | | water temperature is fine, hence the reason to |
| This is particularly true in the heat of the summer | | | | have and pay attention to the water |
| time. The normal operating range for coolant | | | | temperature. |
| temps in the average car would be around | | | | Instrument panels are something that more |
| 200-210 degrees. If the gauge is creeping up to | | | | people should pay attention to. We should learn |
| 220 or more, you should pay close attention and | | | | what the gauges really mean to us and our |
| stop the vehicle and turn it off if it does not start | | | | vehicles. As I stated before, many cars today |
| to come down. | | | | have warning lights instead of gauges. Warning |
| The oil pressure gauge is another important | | | | lights in your cars instrument panel usually come |
| gauge. This gauge tells the pressure (or force) | | | | on too late. Speaking as an old timer who liked to |
| with which the oil is pumping through the engine. | | | | know that a problem was coming, if the light |
| This is important, because a loss of oil pressure | | | | comes on, you are already into the trouble zone |
| usually indicates a loss of significant amount of oil | | | | and should park the car and get it fixed. |