Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all
just about to fit a oil temp gauge to my 2ltr Aircooled, but I dont know what the normal temp it should be running at ?

The VDO gauge I have runs from 60-170 .C

Any ideas

Cheers
Dave

Should be no more than 130 degs C - usually much less - around the 100 mark. If you do a search for this type of info on other Aircooled forums you will find that people reckon gauges are not always reliable - even new they may not be calibrated correctly. I would check yours, either against a known good thermometer or even just boiling water.
Another issue is where you put the sender - you may have got a dipstick one which I believe are ok, if a touch fragile. Other locations include tapped into the round "taco" cover-plate in the sump, near the filler pipe - the plate held in by 2x10mm bolts (you have to drop the oil to fit it and it's a bit vulnerable at a low point on the engine/vehicle. It's also in the breeze so may not be as accurate unless you fit a wind protector, which can double as a physical guard. The other factor with this location is that it is in a bit of a dead end oil flow wise so will not react as quickly as other locations.
Another supposedly good location is tapped into an oilway such as the oil filter mount - a bit tricky to do with the engine in the vehicle. I've just done this but I am in the middle of an engine rebuild/swap so it's out on the floor and easy - I'll take a picture later and post it.
What kind of sender have you got?

Was going to but the dip stick sender you mentioned from Just campers, but they told me, they had just found out they where to short.

They then put me in touch with Stateside tuning who sold me a VDO sender and a adaptor screw to be able to fit it into the oil relieve valve screw!!!

Does this make sense??

Regards
Dave

Yes, it does make sense - there are 2 oil pressure relief valves on these engines. The main one is accessible from beneath, a big (30?mm diam) sort of screw-head - again it is not really in a great spot for oil flow - the oil flows above the spring-loaded piston but not really below it, where the sender will be. But it is convenient to fit and will give you some indication of temp.

cheers for this Keith,
I hoping that having the temp gauge in is better than nothing at all, just a bit of piece of mind to know im not cooking the engine.

Regards
Dave

Yeah - likewise - some say it's just another thing to be paranoid about, others say they pace their driving on the oil temp, esp in the summer in hot climes. I certainly don't want to have a valve seat let go and stuff a cylinder and head.
A cylinder head temp gauge under spark plug 3 (the least cooled) is another way - more money tho.
Where are you mounting your gauge? I've got a pod on top of the instrument binnacle - pic later when I get home.

Was thinking of drilling 51mm hole between the steering wheel cover and the heater controls?

But i'm also toying with getting oil pressure and amp reader and getting them put in the same palce you mentioned.

Cheers
Dave

I have oil temp, oil pressure and volts in a triple black plastic pod that fits well on the binnacle and looks in keeping IMHO - got it off an eBay dealer for a few quid - like this: (black not carbon!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLACK-TRIPLE-POD- ... dZViewItem

Here's what the oil relief valve looks like:

And here's what I've done with my sender:

Nice one keith. I will have a look at those pods.

The photos are a big help. I will have a look this weekend under the van to find the large screw shown in the photo.

Cheers
Dave

Keith the pict of the oil temp switch is where i would like to fit one to mine.Can you advice which part number or as to match up the same .The thread cutting size would be appreciated.Thanks again

Sorry I don't know the part number - it was a sender I got as a set with some gauges. The thread is 10mmx1mm but they may vary so you need to get the bits first.

Thanks Keith i will look in my spares which i have .

Head temp gauge is far more reliable way to tell if you are about to blow your 2L Aircooled.. spend the money on that... the oil wont tell you if your head is too hot...

Okay is there a fiiting kit available for the head?.