Temperature Gauge

[rv02oao]

Has anyone had a problem with their Temperature Gauge? Mine seems to read wrongly? 2002 - 450 Chimaera, but I guess they all the same? Sometimes it sticks and often, even after a long run it fails to get up to 70deg.

[dse444]

I've noticed my 450 runs cooler than previous 4ltr tivs. 65-70 seems to be it's normal cruising temperature. Only slow/stationary driving gets the temperature up.

[slipnot]

My temperature gauge reads just over 70 degrees when the fans start to operate, even moving slowly in traffic. I suspect these gauges are inaccurate, in which case you just need to get to know what it usually reads under normal driving conditions so that you can tell when you do have an overheating problem.

[IPAddis]

My gauge used to work fine but it has been getting slowly less accurate for some time. It now read between 70-75 degrees where as it used to read between 70 and 90 degrees.

The sender is located behind the dizzy and is a 60 quid job to replace at your local dealer.

[ATG]

Not the first time this query has come up ... consensus seems to be (a) the senders pack up (b) the calibration can often be out of whack. Even if the calibration is crap, it is not the end of the world because the dial is best used to see _changes_ in temperature, not absolute levels.

Assuming no one has modified your cooling system and it is working okay, you can get a handle on how the sender/guage combo is working by noting the temp at which the fans come on (a little over 90). That will only change if someone has fitted a lower temp otter switch or that switch is buggered as well.

[plotloss]

My 2001 450 runs at 80 - 100 degs in town and around 70ish when on the motorway.

Just as a reference point.

Matt.

[david beer]

My sender went and i used the spare sender on the top. Using a variable resistor you then set up the guage. Of course if you dont have the spare sender then this route is no good of course!

[pbrettle]

Here's an idea - how about an aftermarket oil temperature gauge? You can pick them up from places such as Demon Tweeks for around £130 for a multi-function one - even come with all connectors and wires. All you need to do is plug it in - Ok, sure it isnt as simple as that, but shouldnt be too hard.

Then you need to fit it somewhere, but those with pre-96 models should be able to knock something up under where the stereo goes. Then you can have a dial that give an accurate oil temp gauge so that you can have a better guide as to the actual running temp - more than relying on that water temp gauge...

Worth considering? Ideas and feedback welcome. I only mention this as this question comes up regularily and almost always leads onto the question of oil temperature...

Cheers,

Paul

[Marshy]

Another idea would be to chuck out the clock, fit a water temp guage in its place, and hook it up to an oil temp sender. Get the letraset out to scribble the word "oil" on the face of the guage, et voila!

I seem to recall Peter Beech's workshop pages talking about this, although that solution involved making another hold for a fifth small guage. Ditching the clock would seem to be the route of least resistance.

[shpub]

quote:

Worth considering? Ideas and feedback welcome. I only mention this as this question comes up regularily and almost always leads onto the question of oil temperature...

Got one on the 520... Hardly changes that much because the oil only really gets very very hot when the car is thrashed on a track day.

Steve
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