Water temp and oil pressure gauges

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Manic Mechanic
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Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by Manic Mechanic »

Some of this has been mentioned before, dotted around in other threads. Some has been figured out using an Ultra-gauge today but:

Oil pressure gauge isn't really a pressure gauge, it doesn't vary with actual pressure and only has two positions:

No pressure - to the left of the scale. Your engine is either off or about to turn itself off expensively.

Normal pressure - just to the right of centre.

Water temp gauge isn't as much of a thermometer as you'd like to believe. It's ECU driven rather than linked directly to the sender on the engine and rises in small distinct steps if you watch it closely.

It starts to move off the bottom of the scale at 40'c (or 105'f) and rises to just left of the centre by 70'c (or 160'f). It will still be sitting just to the left of centre at 100'c (210'f) according to the Ultra-gauge. I haven't seen it any higher so not sure when it will move up from there, but if it does then it's probably about time to start worrying.

Normal running temp for the water on cruise looks to be around 85-90'c (185-190'f).
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by Elektix »

What maf readings are you getting at the moment? Mine have decided to start rising slightly again to 5g/s on idle :roll:
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by Tiny »

Mine reads 130f at half way the fact that it has another 50f to go before you can give it beans and even then I'd give another 5 minutes for the oil and gearbox to warm up safely
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by Arnie_O »

From my new gauges the oil temp in this weather hovers around 60 - 75 celcius
When it's idling for a while or in slow traffic it can hit 90 odd
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by Tiny »

You should see the oil temp on a track day 150'C+ is not uncommon
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by Manic Mechanic »

I haven't done much in the way of recording data yet, today's the first run with the Ultra gauge on. Nice to see other figures.
Tiny - 130'f is only 55'c - spot on, certainly don't want to be caning it at that :shock:

Will have a look at the MAF, not really looked at idle. Have seen it to around 175 g/s today but concentrating more on the road! Will have to use the datalogger (shaped like an 11 yr old son, fits neatly in the passenger seat).
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by liambeattie1 »

Hi folks,

With everyone who has real oil temp gauges. How long does it take for your oil to reach operating temp before giving it full throttle?
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by benedunn »

wouldnt matter you have a thermal pellet bypass in yours buddy :wink:

will have to allow a little more time for it to warm up, just stay sensable :wink:
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by liambeattie1 »

Me sensible??? That's like you not running after women!! Lol

10-15 mins then? After water is up to temp.

Will need to get gauges i the next wee while
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by benedunn »

ye 10 mins should be sufficiant :mrgreen: even from cold really :roll:
Please excuse the spelling mistakes ^^ :D

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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by HwAoRrDk »

Oil warm up time depends a lot on how you're driving the car as well as the ambient temperatures.

For example, I find spending the first 3-4 mins driving steadily then sitting in traffic for a minute or two will see your oil up to temperature pretty quickly. On the other hand, starting the car and then immediately heading out onto a bit of 60mph+ dual-carriageway/motorway driving will see the oil take a while to warm, as the oil coolers will be doing too much and slowing the heat build-up.

Once in the coldest spells of winter weather we had early this year, I found that my oil temp never topped 65C on the majority of a 30 min drive. Was considering going for warpc0il's patent-pending oil-warming apparatus (computer mouse mat stuffed in front of one of the oil coolers :)), but the weather started to thaw out soon after. Conversely, I saw 100C oil temps dawdling through town in the 30C sunny days we had a little while ago.
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Re: Water temp and oil pressure gauges

Post by VelocityVinnie »

From my new gauges the oil temp in this weather hovers around 60 - 75 celcius
When it's idling for a while or in slow traffic it can hit 90 odd
this doesnt seem hot enough to me??, i find that there is very little difference between coolant and oil temps,

I know your running cooling mods but, this does seem a little low.

mine average at 85-90 on a cruise, and 96-98 in traffic, 99-100 when having fun, never had it over 100 though
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