When did we start using temperatures in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit

[rustycat]

Most of the post I'm reading here people of the temps in Celsius. Do they have their temp gauge reading C instead of F? Do they measure in Kilo instead of miles?
Did the US switch to metric (except for the Left Coast)?

Just curious.

 

[kydsid]

As cold as it is in most of the US right now Celsius and Fahrenheit equal each other.

 

[Nebelwerfer]

Canada and the rest of the world use the metric system.

The US and UK and some third world country use Imperial.

Regards

 

[TDI2000Zim]

I remember doing the move back in Jimmy Carter's Presidency. Then again, his was a brief term.

 

[STLTDI]

Beat me to it...lots of TDIs sold in Canada and lots of Canadian members on here. Celsius, KM, and liters.

 

[JSWTDI09]

Our cars are designed in Germany. All of our control modules report temps in degree Celsius. If any gauge reports in degrees F. it has done the arithmetic to convert C. to F.

I think that the real operative question would be: Why does America have to be different from the rest of the world? The metric system make far more sense than our "imperial" system.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[ABS]

As cold as it is in most of the US right now Celsius and Fahrenheit equal each other.

Exactly what I was thinking.... -40F = -40C either way its friggin cold!

I'd also agree with Don. Although, as a native of the US the Imperial system is what I use everyday, I'd much rather be using the metric system in daily life, it really is simple in comparison...

 

[TDI2000Zim]

You know what, when I took my first engineering courses, I bought hook line and sinker the SI metric system, but after 30+ years of engineering practice, I have come to respect our American measurement standards, even if it is cumbersome in design.

Buying gas by the liter is not fun when going on vacation, nor is it reading km signs.

It is even funny to see how Russian designed jet engines, even in their power settings are really knock offs from American Imperial Unit designed jet engines (do a unit conversion, and they give perfect Imperial Units).

Whatever works works, even if it was designed in cubits. For example, the dimensions of the distance between of our wheels are the same practically as old Roman Chariots.

 

[dzcad90]

Even though it's cold in the US right now, it's really cold in Canada. When you see a Celcius temperature referenced, look below the users name on the left side of the post and see where they're from.

 

[FlyTDI Guy]

Yep, we're one of the few countries left that still measure things in terms of body parts. Having had to use the metric system exclusively for my work, I've grown to understand how nice it really is. Most distance and weight conversions are second nature now but ºC to ºF is still a bit difficult for 'off the cuff' or 'in the head' conversions. ºC=(ºF-32)/1.8

 

[CopaMundial]

Fred is in Canada, so when we come to this site so are we... in a manner of speaking.

 

[30_Yr_Dsl_Veteran]

.

The US and UK and some third world country use Imperial.

The U.S. does not use Imperial.

 

[jck66]

Fahrenheit is more intuitive when describing weather because it's *roughly* a 100 point scale against the weather we as humans experience here on this planet. Not perfect, mind you, but easier (granted, I am biased).

The metric system may be nice for some stuff, but I was shocked to come out of engineering school and learn that almost every chemical plant I went to pretty much still used lbs, F, and psi. YMMV.

 

[Hypermile]

Ya, I was gonna say scroll all the to the bottom of the page. What do you see? 2 Canadian flags, ironically I noticed them first yesterday.

Is was -20 when I left work earlier, car was sitting for 8+ hours, started up fine. TDI FTW!

 

[phlfly]

You know what, when I took my first engineering courses, I bought hook line and sinker the SI metric system, but after 30+ years of engineering practice, I have come to respect our American measurement standards, even if it is cumbersome in design.

Buying gas by the liter is not fun when going on vacation, nor is it reading km signs.

It is even funny to see how Russian designed jet engines, even in their power settings are really knock offs from American Imperial Unit designed jet engines (do a unit conversion, and they give perfect Imperial Units).

Whatever works works, even if it was designed in cubits. For example, the dimensions of the distance between of our wheels are the same practically as old Roman Chariots.

I would not agree with some points. It's might be drafting is better, more accrue in the imperial and precision but it's pain to manufacture or repair and that is all I can agree.

Distance is much better and easy in KM because 1 KM = 1000 meters, where 1 mile = 5280 feet, well good luck to imagine this distance, like ex: 3857 feet or 0.7 mile, how long and far is it? when 3857 feet is 1175 meters or just over the km, easy.

Than temp, it's all fine 50F,60F, 70F, ..... but soon as it's gets to below 32 or higher 100F it's unknown and unmanageable territories. When 0C is water freezing level, -25C is freaking cold, 5 C is not too bad, it's temp in most states in the winter mornings and 100 C is boiling point.

Then all thermal, mechanical and electrical engineering design are in the metrics meaning Watts, PA or N per sq m not in BTU, psi or other crazy units. Most temps is in Kelvin or Celsius.

 

[hskrdu]

Because you are visiting a Canadian website?

eh?

Most of the post I'm reading here people of the temps in Celsius. Do they have their temp gauge reading C instead of F? Do they measure in Kilo instead of miles?
Did the US switch to metric (except for the Left Coast)?

Just curious.

 

[CNNPress]

As a scientist, I use metric system everyday. Actually, I find it is easier than Imperial. 0°C means water is becoming ice. 100°C means water is vaporizing. 25°C means room temperature. When in Imperial system, 0°C becomes 32°F, 100°C = 212°F, and 25°C = 77°F. Computers like 0 and 1, I like 0 and 5. Fortunately, the number of our Interstate is in metric system (I-5, I-10, I-15,...), kind of, j/k.

 

[herbert68]

Our cars are designed in Germany. All of our control modules report temps in degree Celsius. If any gauge reports in degrees F. it has done the arithmetic to convert C. to F.

I think that the real operative question would be: Why does America have to be different from the rest of the world? The metric system make far more sense than our "imperial" system.

Have Fun!

Don

Excellent points, thank you Don!

 

[TDI smile]

Beat me to it...lots of TDIs sold in Canada and lots of Canadian members on here. Celsius, KM, and liters.

The Vancouver Area is FULL of TDI's (Hundreds)

 

[Hypermile]

While searching for my car, I have come to conclude that Quebec has the most TDI in Canada. For the same reason I think they are cheaper in QC than the rest of Canada.
I bought my Passat in QC and saved $4K compared to the Greater Toronto Area or the rest of Canada.

 

[weebl]

Except for temperature, which I am weak at doing a quick mental conversion in my head, I am generally fluent in both systems, especially when it comes to distance and weight and can quickly convert these in my head.

TDIs are well liked in Canada. They are popular here in the Edmonton area as well.

 

[Ol'Rattler]

Metric is certainly way better from a user standpoint.

What really bothers me is some of the American cars, mostly from the 70's and 80's. Those care had fasteners that were sized in metric and other fasteners that were sized in SAE. So what you needed were both sized wrenches to work on them.

Probably one of the things that drove me to German and Japanese cars. At least all of the fasteners on a German or Japanese car are metric only.

 

[NB_TDi]

Oh, Americans.

 

[Ski in NC]

Also funny that on Japanese engines (at least the one's I've worked on) avoid using 13mm hex heads on their bolts. 12's, yep. 14's, yep. No 13's. German and US have no problem with 13mm. Maybe the Japanese are on to something...

 

[gulfcoastguy]

I was interning at an international construction company while in engineering school. One time a South African engineer asked me how to calculate an acre(we were in estimating at the time). I said "43560 square feet or 66 feet times 660 feet". He said "when will you bloody Yanks going to join the rest of the world?". It happens that I really agree with him but getting the average US american to do so is like trying to give my dog a bath, you end up picking them up and carrying them and you might get toe nail marks on the door frame of the bath room door any way.

 

[gulfcoastguy]

Also funny that on Japanese engines (at least the one's I've worked on) avoid using 13mm hex heads on their bolts. 12's, yep. 14's, yep. No 13's. German and US have no problem with 13mm. Maybe the Japanese are on to something...

They just don't want to be odd?

 

[FlyTDI Guy]

Could be that the unlucky numbers 9 and 4 add up to 13? I swear, you could disassemble half of everything w/just a 10 & 13mm on my car.

 

[GoFaster]

Most of the post I'm reading here people of the temps in Celsius. Do they have their temp gauge reading C instead of F? Do they measure in Kilo instead of miles?

Yes, and yes. The odometer is in kilometers. The speedo is in km/h (and on most vehicles that I've owned, the old English units are not even given as an alternate ... some have had them in tiny numbers). The thermostatic heater control is in C. The outside temperature display is in C. And for that matter, all of the warning symbols use the ISO standard symbols, not English words.

Did the US switch to metric (except for the Left Coast)?

Just curious.

Who said anything about being in the US??

Our cars are designed in Germany. All of our control modules report temps in degree Celsius. If any gauge reports in degrees F. it has done the arithmetic to convert C. to F.

I think that the real operative question would be: Why does America have to be different from the rest of the world? The metric system make far more sense than our "imperial" system.

Have Fun!

Don

You'll find that most "American" vehicles these days use metric fasteners.

Engineering calculations are for the most part a lot simpler using SI units without having to fight with a bunch of units conversion factors.

Fred is in Canada, so when we come to this site so are we... in a manner of speaking.

Oh, Americans.

Pretty much ... On a worldwide scale, it is the Americans who are the odd ones out in this regard. The rest of us are normal

 

[Lug_Nut]

The official measurement system IS metric. All the customary units are, and have for over 100 years have been, defined in metric units.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendenhall_Order

Old Saab were all imperial, because it was expected that the majority of the cars would be sold in the US. That was OK until the 2 stroke didn't pass US emissions and a German V4 was installed. So I have all inch and S.A.E. for the car and all metric on the engine.
Interestingly plumbing and tires are mostly inch world wide, Michelin and the TRX not-withstanding.

 

[JSWTDI09]

Pretty much ... On a worldwide scale, it is the Americans who are the odd ones out in this regard. The rest of us are normal

At least we Americans are consistent. You are correct that most of the world is 100% metric, and that Americans for some reason refuse to give up feet, inches, yards, miles, etc. The really strange ones in this regard are the Brits. They purchase their fuel by the liter (litre), but they still measure their fuel consumption in miles per gallon (with a different size gallon).

I work for a large multinational company and we have factories all around the world. The parts manufactured in the USA require Imperial tools. The parts manufactured in Germany and Switzerland require metric tools. However, the parts of our machines that are manufactured in England require an odd mix of both types of tools. Some of it is metric and other parts are Imperial. Go figure.

And since we are talking about Canada - everything in Canada is metric unless you want to cook. In all cookbooks and all of the Canadian ovens I have seen all measure temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit. I have no idea why.

Have Fun!

Don