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If you are driving for hours and the thermostat still reads cold, is that a bad thing? A cold engine does pose a danger to the car over time. It may not leave you immediately stranded the way a hot engine does. After all, a hot engine is like playing with fire. Still, a cold engine does signal the need to head for auto repair Kingston NY. You can schedule onlinewith Prestige Toyota Service.
What’s happening?
Without looking at the engine, the first thought is the thermostat. This may have gone bad. If it has, your cold reading is really a false one. There’s no way to know if the car is hot or cold without the thermostat. That could be dangerous if the car runs hot. 
Clues
Does the HVAC heat get hot? If not, it is definitely the thermostat. Another clue may be gas mileage. If your car is running cold, it isn’t heating the gas up to the right temperature. That means that engine will use more gas for the same job. This can be dangerous to the engine, causing systems to strain and, in the long run, break. 
Codes
If the gauge says cold AND there is a service engine light, the problem may run deeper than a broken thermostat. A car with a broken thermostat has been known to increase emissions. If this is allowed to continue over a long period of time, it will damage the catalytic converter. Other dangers include damage to the O2 sensors and the EGR valve.
If your car runs cold, bring it for a check-up at Prestige Toyota Service. You can call us at 845-750-6941 Monday through Saturday. Our online scheduler is fast and easy.