Upgrading pressure/temp senders/gauges - suggestions

[mm289]

Morning all

Just doing a top end rebuild which I will document in a thread a bit later, but whilst the engine is out I wanted to upgrade the "WARNING SYSTEMS" on the engine.

Am thinking of:
- oil pressure gauge
- water temperature
- oil temperature

Just wondered what others have done, what you think is useful/not needed and any suggestions on whose products you have used especially for the gauges - ideally want something that will not stick out like a sore thumb on the dash - not looking for a boy racer look (on this van )

Pics would be nice

Cheers,

MM

[weimarbus]

I have used Tim super dash 52mm gauges on my buggy engine 1.9 waterboxer and have found them to be reliable and quite cost effective, the oil pressure you can take off from the sender hole by the waterpump usisg a suitable tee piece, I believe the oil temp will go in the sump plug but have not done this because it would be vulnerable and reduce ground clearance. The water temp is easy and you just slot an adapter into one of the water pipes.

P.S dont panic when the pressure drops to next to nothing at tick over on a hot engine as long as it is above 25psi at 2000 rpm

hope that helps

[kevtherev]

I fitted Tim gauges too
I fitted a "wet" oil pressure gauge, some call it a "mechanical" gauge rather than an electronic one

A water temp gauge is rather more difficult as to what part of the cooling system you wish to monitor. With the thermostat opening and closing it makes the position of the sender important.
Water from the radiator, water from the rad mixed with water from the head, water to the rad, each of these will have different values.
Personally I would position it near the water pump, as this coolant is what's entering the engine.
Monitoring coolant from the engine would be far to frightening.
An oil temp gauge on a water boxer would be fairly useless as the water temp determines the oil temp

[mm289]

Thanks guys,

with the oil pressure gauge switch was this in addition to the two oil pressure switches that run the light/buzzer, in which case where abouts did you tap into the block? Any pics

Hear what your saying on oil temp vs water temp Kev, i'll have a think about that one, given I have the standard water temp which is working fine I might be inclined to do an oil temp - in which case the same question applies as above about where to tap into the block?

Engine out being rebuilt at moment so easy to fit if I do it now

Out of interest, can you remember which model gauges/senders you fitted?

many thanks,

MM

[kevtherev]

Thanks guys,

with the oil pressure gauge switch was this in addition to the two oil pressure switches that run the light/buzzer, in which case where abouts did you tap into the block? Any pics

you must use the low pressure sender insertion point (10mm X1 thread) between Nos. 3 &4 cyl pushrods, it has to be left in place, so you'll need an extender tube* with two take off points, one for the gauge (wet or electronic) and the other for the sender. *All available from Demon Tweeks
no tapping into the block!

- in which case the same question applies as above about where to tap into the block?

no tapping into the block!
If you insist on fitting a useless gauge then it would be fitted in the pressure relief valve, not the sump as it would be ripped off to easily.
when your water temp goes up, your oil pressure will drop, and similarly as your water temp goes down your pressure goes up as the water temp dictates the oil temp, they are not separate entities.

Out of interest, can you remember which model gauges/senders you fitted?

TIM gauges from Demon Tweeks.

I would junk the useless oil temp gauge idea for a far more useful one... like an ammeter or voltmeter... or both. to check your battery/alternator condition, and any discharging that shouldn't happen



here are mine

[mm289]

Thanks Kev,

have had a look on the Demon Tweeks webs site and now understand what you mean about the t-piece etc. I presume you have routed the capillary tube under the chassis then brought up behind the dash?

If you insist on fitting a useless gauge

LOL - wasn't planning on fitting any useless ones quite yet - but now you mention it could maybe fit a big turbo boost gauge to con the rice burners into thinking it was FAST

Did like the look of the SPA dual dial gauges though with built in warning lights


Need a big wallet at £150 plus the VAT though


MM

[mm289]

Quick question on oil pressure sender.

Got a 50mm T piece from Demon Tweeks, but it doesnt give enough clearance to fit the OP sender between the pushrod tubes.

Can you fit it anywhere else e.g. the switch on the front of the engine by the crank pulley or anyone used a remote location kit for the sender like this?



cheers

MM

[kevtherev]

yes the remote is a good way
I used two tee pieces and blanked the hole on the side

[axeman]

i used bradded break hose with m10x1.0 fittings and added a t piece to incorporate the bod circuit.

mounted the seder in the engine bay



neil

[mm289]

Cheers guys, confirmed my suspicions

MM

[Plasticman]

IMHO a wet oil gauge is the best extra you can fit, no worries about electrical oddities on the bod etc
mike

[kevtherev]

oh yes..