Condensation on water temp guage

[CHJ]

I've noticed in this cooler weather that my temp guage is steaming up a bit and getting some condensation on. I suspect it was doing this in the summer but disappearing in the hot/dry weather. Is this normal? The temp stays bang on 80 in normal driving conditions and rises to 90 in traffic, and I don't seem to be using any more water than I was all summer.(Just a top up every week). All the other guages are unaffected, but it does seem a bit `humid` in the car at times.

Thanks, Chris.

[jmorgan]

A lot of gauges do that. There is a hole in some of them to stop that but I don't think they tested it first. Strangely my first one, that had no holes in the gauges, didn't steam up.

[pwd95]

All my wedges have done that with all the gauges.

[leorest]

Most gauges of "that age" do this to some extent but convertible cars are especially prone to it.

The gauge is a semi-closed container which has a small opening to the atmosphere. Think of a double glazing unit which has failed. Humidity from the atmosphere gets inside and is trapped there. According to the temperature and pressure (dew point) of the air inside the gauge and the temperature of the gauge glass/body this "trapped" air either holds moisture or gives it up as condensation visible on the glass.

The gauge illumination (if done by incandescent bulb) provides some heating which can help to drive off moisture. So it's a good idea to have this on as much as possible!

You can gently play a hair dryer on the gauge to warm it up and gently blow dry compressed air into the gauge openings at the back to flush out all the humidity.

When you've spent a few hours doing this to the whole dash full of dials you should get a good few years of clear gauges.

Note the careful use of bold font.

[CHJ]

Thanks for the good news - I was starting to worry

Chris

[chunder]

My gauges do this as well - has anyone ever tried drilling a very small (maybe 1mm ?) hole in the face of the gauge ?

In theory this should cure it (one way or the other anyway !).

[mightymouse]

pwd95 said:

All my wedges have done that with all the gauges.

mine does as well.

"They all do that Sir"

[JimF]

Yep.Mine do it too,but seem to dry very quickly once the blower is turned off??

[Miss Vixey]

CHJ said:

I've noticed in this cooler weather that my temp guage is steaming up a bit and getting some condensation on. I suspect it was doing this in the summer but disappearing in the hot/dry weather. Is this normal? The temp stays bang on 80 in normal driving conditions and rises to 90 in traffic, and I don't seem to be using any more water than I was all summer.(Just a top up every week). All the other guages are unaffected, but it does seem a bit `humid` in the car at times.

Thanks, Chris.

I think it's just one of those TVR quirks. My old 350i didn't have misty gauges - my 400SE does. Just be glad your gauges are working!

[leorest]

I can't see out the windows so I don't see why I need to know any other information LOL.