Water temp gauge

[Efini82]

ive heard the standard water temp gauge can be a bit lame on the fd.

i.e., when it starts buzzing u need to be quick about turning the car off or u can do serious damage. personally, id like to know before the buzzing that somethings up...

im looking at getting a mechanical autogauge meter. are these reliable enough?? read some other posts on whether electric of mech gauges are better. id prefer mech as u know wots happening literally there and then, dont have to rely on bits being converted etc.

where would i plumb it into to the system and also wot actual temps am i looking at staying away from?? as the standard gauge just has cold and hot and the rule is basically keep it in the middle isnt it?

cheers


Justin

[ftorex]

The standard temp guage is crap to be honest..Best thing to do is fit an aftermarket temp guage as it will give you an accurate temp reading..I fitted one to mine and located the sensor on the thermo. housing..It does take a bit of time but well worth it..Most cars seems to run around 80/85 ish on the temp side..Only problem with locating on the thermo housing is that the guage wont show a reading until the thermostat has opened but its not a problem for me..

 :3gears-lh

[nikp]

You could always purchase the Apexi ECU which most people who have FD\'s have. The Commander unit that comes with the Apexi has a readout which can include the coolant temp which it reads straight from the standard coolant temp. sensor.

Oh, and the only buzzer i know of is the low coolant buzzer, rather than a \'Your Coolant is far too hot\' buzzer. It\'s not quite so much of a rush to turn the engine off then!

[ro284]

I have just bought  a cheap one myself Justin and i am drilling and Tap the housing by the water pump, the Tap cost £8 getting through the bulkhead is the next problem and i think i\'ll wait till it\'s warmer.
Bob

[Martiny]

ftorex, how can that not be a problem? If the thermo gets stuck closed, and the engine overheats, you wont know. How can that be better than the standard gauge?

[ftorex]

Martiny its not a problem 4 me as I have replaced my thermostat...If your going to take the Thermo housing off you might as well replace the Thermostat + O-ring ...Obviously if the thermostat isnt working then you will have a problem..Im just going on what most people on here seem to say..by the time the standard temp guage goes past normal the engine has probably overheated...Adding an extra temp guage is for peace of mind i think..  

[Jono FD3]

Wouldn\'t it be better to put the sensor in the rad pipe??? you can get the adaptors off ebay for about £7 if I remember correctly! All you need to do then is cut the rad pipe, fit the adapter and screw in your new sensor!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUTOGAUGE-GAUGE-WATER-TEMP-SENDER-PIPE-38mm_W0QQitemZ8032713560QQcategoryZ72215QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I\'m doing this too, but I bought an electrical gauge. Lets be fair, it\'s got to be a shed load more reliable than the standard equipment!!!!!

Jono

[ftorex]

There are both pros and cons for putting the sensor in the thermo housing and in the Rad pipe...Locating it in the thermo housing gives you a more accurate temp reading than it would in the rad pipe.Eventhough the rad pipe is a quicker method of installation..

 :flamed

[Jono FD3]

There are both pros and cons for putting the sensor in the thermo housing and in the Rad pipe...Locating it in the thermo housing gives you a more accurate temp reading than it would in the rad pipe.Eventhough the rad pipe is a quicker method of installation..

 :flamed

Surley that would depend on how close you mounted it to the block on the rad pipe?  Wouldn\'t of thought it would make a massive difference.... 1 or 2 degrees???

Jono

[allstaruk]

The best place for the sensor will be in the water pump housing, Mine is in the thermostat housing and the guys at reworx said it wasn\'t a good place to have it.

[Efini82]

to be honest i know i asked the question but im with jono on this at the moment unless someone can convince me otherwise. but from previous experience putting in the rad hose wouldnt make that much difference.


id want it from a different source to the standard one for the only reason that if one goes faulty (i.e the thermo goes), then i have another to go by


cheers

justin

PS didnt mean to start an argument.... :2eek

[grinder]

i put mine in the rad hose , nice and simple and cost me £12 for all the bits ( and the gauge )

have a look in the MODS & RESULTS section in the 2nd forum - im sure there is a link in there for it

[grinder]

i went and found it for you

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=144188

[Martiny]

Efini, I agree that you should then use both. Putting it in the Rad pipe, again is AFTER the thermostat. I still cannot understand how anyone thinks thats a good idea, or maybe I am just being really thick???

[grinder]

the only thing of putting is BEFORE the thermostat is that you get a reading all the time ( regardless of open or closed )

but once it opens - it becomes one full system - so the temp should be uniform

i put mine there as it gives me a reading which i can watch and once it starts to move i can slow down or stop

i dont think there is a proven right or wrong place for it - mine went there for easy

once the thermostat opens at 82 or 87 , then the dial shows me a temp , if that temp climbs , you know its hot , the thermostat then plays no part in the open system ( or thats how i see it !! )