[Marc401]

I'm quite sure the "coolant temperature" reading refers to the ICE coolant as opposed to the electronics or battery loops. In the winter it displays the same as the ambient temp unless I've burned some gas.

On hot days something weird happens. It was 30C outside yesterday. The coolant temp was showing 30C when I started out. I was stuck in traffic for about 1/2 an hour and travelled only 10km. The coolant temp was creeping up the whole time. (90% battery, no gas) By the end of my trip it was showing 41C.

Any ideas why the reading is climbing when I'm on electric only?
TIA

 

[linkim]

I'm quite sure the "coolant temperature" reading refers to the ICE coolant as opposed to the electronics or battery loops. In the winter it displays the same as the ambient temp unless I've burned some gas.

On hot days something weird happens. It was 30C outside yesterday. The coolant temp was showing 30C when I started out. I was stuck in traffic for about 1/2 an hour and travelled only 10km. The coolant temp was creeping up the whole time. (90% battery, no gas) By the end of my trip it was showing 41C.

Any ideas why the reading is climbing when I'm on electric only?
TIA

I wonder if the higher temp (41C) is due to the hot pavement temp on which your Volt is on as you drive slowly in traffic. I assume you were driving on pavement.

 

[BAZINGA]

I've never seen this sort of reading in my 17. Of course I seldom look at it since I operate over 96% of the time off the battery. Usually the only time I look at it is during EMM. BTW during EMM's the highest I've seen was 212F.

 

[Marc401]

I wonder if the higher temp (41C) is due to the hot pavement temp on which your Volt is on as you drive slowly in traffic. I assume you were driving on pavement.

I considered that too. I was on pavement but I doubt the pavement was +40C(104F) on a 30C(86F) day.

 

[linkim]

I considered that too. I was on pavement but I doubt the pavement was +40C(104F) on a 30C(86F) day.

What time of the day were you on the road?

 

[JRRF]

If you are stuck in traffic, the heat from all those ICEs around you, plus the blacktop and the sun, it gets a lot hotter on the freeway than in your driveway/garage.

Even without stop and go traffic, if you did a heat scan from space, you'd see the freeways as corridors of heat.

 

[ClarksonCote]

I would've expected the coolant temperature to be of the battery's coolant, hmmm...

 

[somms]

I would've expected the coolant temperature to be of the battery's coolant, hmmm...

FWIW: Just for reference on the Gen1 you have:

engine coolant temperature
radiator coolant temperature
Hybrid/EV Battery Pack Coolant Temperature Sensor 1
Hybrid/EV Battery Pack Coolant Temperature Sensor 2

 

[KevinW]

On hot days something weird happens. It was 30C outside yesterday. The coolant temp was showing 30C when I started out. I was stuck in traffic for about 1/2 an hour and travelled only 10km. The coolant temp was creeping up the whole time. (90% battery, no gas) By the end of my trip it was showing 41C.

Any ideas why the reading is climbing when I'm on electric only?
TIA

Some of the heat from the A/C condenser remains in the engine compartment.

 

[Fyodor]

I considered that too. I was on pavement but I doubt the pavement was +40C(104F) on a 30C(86F) day.

It could easily be 40 degrees, with sun beating on the asphalt and thousands of combustion engined dumping waste heat all around you.