Temperature is one of the biggest limiting factors in car racing. Many car components have a very narrow temperature window where they perform at their best. Understanding this data not only helps racing drivers to get the best performance out of their car on the track, but they also help drivers know when to react before components overheat or fail. As part of our motorsport sensors series, we are taking a closer look at the different types of car temperature sensors, what each of them does, where they’re fitted and how to interpret the data.

Types Of Car Temperature Sensors

Depending on which sensors are installed in the car will have different benefits for car handling and performance. Below we have listed the most common types of temperature sensors that we stock at Aim, what they’re used for and how to understand what the data could mean.

Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) Sensor

Type: M5 K-Type

Used for: EGT sensors give insight into combustion efficiency and can raise issues like a running-lean condition that risks engine damage. They measure the temperature of gases leaving the cylinder, letting you know how efficiently fuel is burning. It is one of the best temperature sensors for combustion quality.

How EGT sensors work: Installed using a probe that is installed directly into the exhaust manifold or header, exhaust gases pass over the probe to generate a small voltage proportional to the temperature of the exhaust gases. This voltage is transmitted to the car’s telemetry system, converting it into a temperature value.

Where it’s placed: EGT sensors are threaded into the exhaust header pipe, about 150mm from the exhaust port.

Installation tips: Keep the probe the same distance from the exhaust port for consistent readings. If you're tuning per-cylinder, fit one EGT sensor per cylinder rather than relying on a single averaged reading.

Interpreting data: Rising EGT means the mixture is running lean, risking burnt valves or pistons. Dropping EGT means the mixture is rich or a misfire/timing issue. Spikes in a single cylinder mean injector fault or uneven cylinder performance.

Related product: K-Type EGT

Tyre Temperature Sensor

Type: Infrared

Used for: Measures the temperature across the car's entire tyre surface across multiple points (inner, centre and outer). As tyre grip is extremely temperature-sensitive, racing drivers and teams often use this data to optimise their car setup for maximum traction.

How tyre temperature sensors work: They work by detecting the invisible heat radiation emitted from the surface of a tyre. They use optics to focus this energy onto a detector, which converts it into an electrical signal to measure temperature without touching the rubber. Tyre temperature is one of the best real time indicators of grip and setup balance because tyres only generate maximum grip within a specific temperature window.

Where it’s placed: Mounted 30–150mm from the tyre surface, typically on a bracket kit near the wheel arch or suspension upright, angled to read the tread.

Installation tips: Ideally use 3 IR temperature sensors per tyre to understand the full tyre setup.

Interpreting data: If tyre temperature is too cold, grip is reduced; too hot and grip can be lost, with faster wear to the tyres. An imbalance between inner and outer sensor data indicates camber or pressure is out of balance, and a front and rear imbalance indicates understeer or oversteer.

Related product: Infrared Tyre Temperature Sensor

Water/Oil Temperature Sensor

Type: Thermistor (1/8th NPT, M5 or M10) and K-Type (M5 or M10)

Used for: Measures the water temperature using a sensor – thermocouple – placed in the cooling system. They’re ideal for understanding early on if there are warning signals for cooling system and lubrication health. Running systems outside their correct temperature range reduces efficiency, cuts power delivered to the wheels and drastically shortens component lifespan.

How water/oil temperature sensors work: They work by using a thermistor—a small electronic resistor whose internal electrical resistance changes with heat. As fluid gets hotter, resistance drops; the ECU measures the resulting voltage change to calculate temperature.

Where it’s placed: Placed directly in the cooling system or the oil sump, using the thread type that matches your engine or housing.

Interpreting data: Increasing water temperature can indicate a cooling system issue. Oil never reaching working range could indicate increased wear, and oil spiking without water flowing could point to oil cooling or oil volume issues.

Related products: Water/Oil PT100 Thermistor or K-Type TC

Belt Temperature Sensor

Type: Infrared

Used for: Continuously variable transmission (CVT) belts fail predictably when they overheat, so tracking belt temperature in real time gives you a direct warning before a belt failure causes premature wear, sudden friction failure, and costly strandings.

How belt temperature sensors work: As the belt operates, the sensor continuously measures its surface temperature and sends this data to your Aim logger.

Where it’s placed: Placed directly over the middle top section of the drive belt, halfway between the primary and secondary clutches, mounted through a drilled hole in the outer clutch/belt housing cover.

Installation tips: Position the sensor so that its field of view is consistently reading the belt surface only. 

Interpreting data: A gradual rise over a run can mean normal heat-soak, sudden spikes can be excessive slip, clutch issue, or belt wear, and lack of cool down between efforts can be insufficient ventilation.

Related product: Belt Temperature Sensor

Cylinder Head Temperature Sensor

Type: K-Type

Used for: Cylinder head temperature (CHT) is a direct indicator of overall combustion and engine temperature, making it one of the most useful channels for engine tuning and protection.

How cylinder head temperature sensors work: CHT sensors work by measuring the direct metal heat of an engine's cylinder head using a thermocouple. They change electrical resistance or generate a tiny voltage based on temperature, sending this data to the ECU to control fuel and timing.

Where it’s placed: Under the spark plug — the sensor sits between the plug and the cylinder head.

Installation tips: Remove the washer from the spark plug to ensure the sensor remains in firm contact with the cylinder head.

Interpreting data: Too cold can mean a loss in horsepower, too hot could cause piston damage and sharp rises indicate that you should back off or pit immediately.

Related product: CHT 14mm K-Type

Importance Of Complete Car Temperature Monitoring

Motorsport cars have various components that need monitoring, so no single temperature sensor is going to give you the full picture of your car's setup. A hot outer tyre temperature alongside understeer on corner entry tells a different setup story than the same reading alongside snap oversteer on exit.

Reviewing your car temperature sensors all in one place thanks to Race Studio 3, alongside other important vehicle data, allows you to turn raw data into actionable decisions: a setup change, a tuning adjustment, or simply knowing when to back off before something breaks.

Sensor Installation & Maintenance Tips

Although specific car temperature sensors are installed in different parts of the car, their maintenance to ensure reliable data and longevity is very similar. To get the most out of your temperature sensors, we recommend:

  • Route cables away from other sensor cables to reduce interference.
  • Securely mount sensors to get the most accurate readings.
  • Set alarms for critical temperatures so you get warnings before it becomes a bigger problem.
  • Use the correct thread type for your housing as this is one of the most common installation issues.
  • If you're unsure which thread type, connector or expansion you need, our team can help you match the right sensor to your setup.
  • Recalibrate sensors for accuracy.
  • Regularly clean and inspect sensors for wear or damage.
  • Speak to our experienced technicians if a sensor needs to be repaired.

Browse the full range of car temperature sensors at Aim Shop, or read our Motorsport Sensors Guide for a broader look at which sensors you might need across your entire setup.

0 kommentarer