Auxiliary gauges questions... longish

[adamm]

Have the searched the board looking for a definitive answer on this but there doesn't seem to be one. Maybe I can write up an article if I can find the answers I need and go through with the install... there's your incentive

Following a recent overheating problem with my E36 I'm thinking I should probably fit some better insurance to the 02 - having spent all this time building it I dont want to fry it.

So, to the questions, there's about room for me to make a 'bracket' for 3 VDO guages in the centre console right?

Assuming this, what are the best things to monitor? From browsing previous threads I'm thinking oil temp, water temp and oil pressure. Would the general masses agree with this - I'm interested in getting as much feedback as possible and as much from real life experience as possible. So if you agree or disagree please let me know.

Thirdly, previous statements holding true, where have you all found the best places to mount the sensors for the gauges? I've seen oil temp gauges in the oil filter housing mount but where best for water temp and oil pressure?

And lastly - this is worth the trouble isn't it - tell me I'm not just being paranoid!!

Thanks all...

[winstontj]

So, to the questions, there's about room for me to make a 'bracket' for 3 VDO guages in the centre console right?

I'm thinking oil temp, water temp and oil pressure.

Thirdly, previous statements holding true, where have you all found the best places to mount the sensors for the gauges? I've seen oil temp gauges in the oil filter housing mount but where best for water temp and oil pressure?

Your stock water temp gauge is pretty good and if you ground out your gauge cluster well and keep up on the wire from the outlet housing you should be OK as it is very accurate. I'd monitor oil pressure, temp and volts personally, or that's what I plan on doing. Also I'm going to be installing MegaSquirt and will need to install an additional water temp gauge - no need for three!!!

Bav Auto and some others sell a nice three-gauge console that fits right next to the instrument cluster - only you'll have to cut the dash or remove the fasten seatbelts sign and plumb your stuff through there.

HTH,

TJW

[Mike Self]

volts.

Use a two terminal oil pressure sender unit so the idiot light will still work. On the VDO senders, it's set to illuminate at 15psi vs 7.5 on the stock light only sender, so that's additional warning. Be sure and use a 0-150 psi gauge--I see over 100 psi on a cold morning, even with a worn engine. No telling with my new one--it hasn't been cold yet.

If you have a non tii, use the existing boss in the oil filter housing to drill and tap for the oil temp. That measures it as it exits the filter and is a lot less trouble than either a dipstick or drain plug mounted sender. The voltmeter is an easy hookup, and is a lot easier than an ammeter. Provides better information on your charging system's health anyway.

Parker Performance makes some nifty faceplates to mount extra gauges either in the stock console, or an air conditioner console. Or, if you have the fasten seatbelt sign atop your dash, get a pod to hold three gauges and mount in in place of the warning sign. Up there, the gauges will be in your line of sight so you don't have to take your eyes off the road to glance at your gauges...

cheers

mike

[Benz02]

I think the oil temp, oil pressure and volts is the way to go. For the pressure, you need the dual tipped sender(same spot as the old one). And I think you're right on about tapping the oil filter housing for the temp sender. Not sure where you wire up volts to, but I'm sure someone here does. Also, there's a business listed under the links called, "Parker Enterprises", which appears to make custom dash console layouts for '02's...good looking kits too.

Cheers,

Benzo '71 Verona

[Stacey]

I have a VDO oil temp, oil pressure and volts cluster. I fabbed a plate to go where the original ash tray/emerg flasher/rear fog dummy plug were. I have a Clardy AC system, so it was an easy mod, and looks stock. I moved the emerg flasher to the oposite side of the column from the ignition key (where the manual choke is sometimes located). From all I've read, the water temp guage is fairly accurate as long as grounding issues are kept in check. I've thought about mounting a fuel pressure guage and Ox sensor guage in the glove box for tuning/trouble shooting needs, but this is not really needed for day-to-day driving. Make sure you get the adapter for the oil pressure sending tap so you keep the dummy light functionality.

[SteveJ]

Yeah, you are being paranoid.

Remember that ignorance is bliss.

I'd go with Oil temp, oil press, and a voltmeter. As has been said, the water temp gauge is just fine. Get the correct range for the oil press gauge, and make sure that the sender matches that range. The oil press sender will be a dual unit up by the distrib. One wire to the console light, one to the gauge. For the oil temp, the drain plug sender works just fine. The voltmeter can tap into any +12 source. Just make sure it is not one on a dimmer for the dash lights. The Parker panel is a very nice product.

You can go super paranoid and use a voltmeter and ammeter tied directly into the charging system. You can also run an oil line from the motor into a mechanical gauge.

Or, you can make sure everything is in good mechanical condition and drive it. Try not to worry too much. Worry tends to minimize the fun.

[adamm]

Thank you chaps. I feel slightly less worried now. I dont know where I'd be without this community sometimes!!