Gauges, what do I need to measure

Just in the process of getting a 110 ex MoD...
It's had a 200Tdi engine put in it, and currently I've got:
Fuel
Water Temp
Boost

I was wondering whether Oil Temp, Oil Pressure etc would be good to add?

What do you think is important, and why?

Rev counter?

Lief Zpring said:

Rev counter?

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Yeah, I was surprised that it didn't have one, I assumed that people just went on the noise getting noisier!!

Ha ha, when you hit the red line it's actually blood running from your ears

If it's measurable, measure it! If it's not then hit it with a hammer until it is!!

Fuel temp
Inlet air temp

The idiot light for your oil pressure will be just on off

I would fit a proper capillary water temp gauge (durite or TIM) and also either an electric or capillary oil pressure gauge by the same manufacturers. By the time the factory oil light comes on then it’s to late and damage will have been done.

Not fussed about boost tbh, measure and set it and leave be.

flat said:

By the time the factory oil light comes on then it’s to late and damage will have been done.

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That's why it's called an idiot light.. you'd have to be one to wait for it to come on

HandyAndyUK said:

Just in the process of getting a 110 ex MoD...
It's had a 200Tdi engine put in it, and currently I've got:
Fuel
Water Temp
Boost

I was wondering whether Oil Temp, Oil Pressure etc would be good to add?

What do you think is important, and why?

Click to expand...

Oil pressure!
Because as already stated, by the time the pressure has dropped low enough to put the light on, your engine has already suffered damage.

So, the big three would then be:
Fuel, Water Temp, and Oil Pressure?
And by big three I mean the three in the binnacle
Then find a place elsewhere for:
Boost, Oil Temp, Rev counter?

Anything else anyone else measures, other than the aforementioned Air Inlet Temp, I don't think I've ever seen a Fuel Temp before, is that due to issues around low temp?

No need for any of them others imo unless you are going for the ricer look dash layout but your vehicle so put whatever you want!

I had the misfortune to own an A-class merc once, had to replace the fuel temp sensor on it but no ideas what it was used for

+1 most of its useless unless your going for a particular look

I wasn't really asking for fashion reasons, I was wondering what people thought was useful, and why...

I was initially thinking of having Speedo, with Fuel level, Water temp, Oil pressure, and a Rev counter, but it came with a boost gauge and no Oil pressure, which made me wonder about what other people found useful. Then I thought how to demote one of these gauges to another place (as in which one is less required - in the frequent glance area), as it only comes with space for three dials in the binnacle. I was looking to see whether there are any combi gauges (i.e. Water Temp and Fuel Level) but I've not seen anything obviously available without going digital.

I fitted an oil pressure gauge in the spare space, with matching fuel and temperature gauges from Durite. If you think about what is critical to keep the engine healthy, that leaves the battery voltage and boost. As long as the engine is pulling well, you don't really need an accurate boost gauge all the time. If there were room for another gauge in the dash, I'd definitely have a voltmeter - poor battery/electrical power probably leaves more people stranded than anything else. I carry a little dongle that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket, it gives me a voltage and inside temperature (useless) reading.

There's a nice mechanical gauge available somewhere which shows water temp on the bottom half and oil pressure on top which would fit neatly in place of the original temperature gauge. Even has nice old-style Land Rover branding in the middle. Put rpm and fuel level either side of it.
In the middle of the dash, you can put things like boost, oil temperature and EGT (if you've fiddled with the fuel pump) which you don't need to look at as often. No need to clutter up the interior with more gauges than an aircraft cockpit- you just lose sight of the ones that are actually useful.

zeaphod said:

I fitted an oil pressure gauge in the spare space, with matching fuel and temperature gauges from Durite. If you think about what is critical to keep the engine healthy, that leaves the battery voltage and boost. As long as the engine is pulling well, you don't really need an accurate boost gauge all the time. If there were room for another gauge in the dash, I'd definitely have a voltmeter - poor battery/electrical power probably leaves more people stranded than anything else. I carry a little dongle that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket, it gives me a voltage and inside temperature (useless) reading.
View attachment 193489

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that fuel on is nice, my other 2 gauges are the same as yours, what does the fuel gauge run off? the original sender or a durite one and what did you do to fit?

Coolant temp from the head ( egr temp port ) on a 300tdi, EGT from the exhaust, Turbo press from the turbo and from the inlet manifold , just for fun.
Voltage on a little gauge on the dash.

Cheers

The above should cover most of it. I also have turbo pressure. No point measuring something you don't understand. Spend time reading up on normal values and what high or low means

FlyingPete said:

There's a nice mechanical gauge available somewhere which shows water temp on the bottom half and oil pressure on top which would fit neatly in place of the original temperature gauge. Even has nice old-style Land Rover branding in the middle.

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That would solve the dilemma!! I'll look out for one of those.

flat said:

that fuel on is nice, my other 2 gauges are the same as yours, what does the fuel gauge run off? the original sender or a durite one and what did you do to fit?

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I'm running it off the original sender. Although the resistance is a bit different to the durite one, it seems to work well. The low fuel warning light still works too.

Ace cheers