How Does a Water Temperature Gauge Work?

Racing drivers must monitor what goes on inside a vehicle’s engine to help prevent breakdowns and ensure that they cross the finish line. Water temperature is one of the many things a driver must keep an eye on while operating a high-performance engine. A water temperature gauge allows a quick way to do this while a car is flying around the track.
Significance
A water temperature gauge indicates the temperature of the circulated water in a vehicle’s engine. This water is channeled through the radiator and various components of the engine by the water pump and indicates when a problem with the cooling system has occurred. The problem could be a blown water hose, malfunctioning fan or leaking radiator.
Function
Water temperature gauges are made up of a meter powered by electricity that is fastened to a wire that has been coiled. A magnet attached to the coil keeps a bar pointing at zero until the wire senses heat after the engine is turned on. The wire, which runs into part of the cooling system, such as the radiator, where cooling water is flowing, causes the pointer to move on the temperature reading gauge to indicate the water temperature.
History
Water temperature gauges can test temperatures in Fahrenheit or Celsius. These temperature measurement scales exist because of Gabriel Fahrenheit, who invented the mercury thermometer in 1714, and Anders Celsius, who was an important figure in developing another scale for temperature gauges.