Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 22:40:19 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: VDO Gauge Guru - temp vs voltage???
In-Reply-To: <00a501c13238$c6387270$9865fea9@dhaynesmaster>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
In my former 1984 Westfalia I would be hard pressed to get the oil above
105C and usually it would be about 95C - this is with a 1.8L engine. My
Syncro goes up to 120C and this is with a 2.0L engine. Originally I thought
it was displacement differences, but now I know this is not the case. My 84
Westfalia would be +- 0.1V 14.4V while driving down the highway and the
voltage would not change more than 0.2V with the lights on. My 1988 Syncro,
along with a friend's 88 Syncro both drive at around 13V and the voltage
fluctuates with the electrical accessories that are turned on. With high
beams on I am close to 11.5V. Now, we both notice that the lower the
voltage goes in the system the higher the oil temps got - instantly - if you
turned on the lights would add about 5 degrees the instant you turn on the
lights. Now today for the experiment, I took a 1.5V dry cell and installed
in in series with the positive lead of my gauge and the reading went no
higher than 105C when I pushed the engine really hard. So... after all of
this I have some questions:
- What voltage are these gauges supposed to run at?
- Does anyone have a resistance to temp graph? The one in the Bentley
manuals for the water temp is wrong when it comes to oil temps.
- What is wrong with our Syncro electrical systems that it can't hold 14.4V?
I even tried the same alternator in both vans and the problem stayed with
the Syncro...
David Marshall
Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
mailto:info@fastforward.ca <mailto:info@fastforward.ca>
http://www.fastforward.ca <http://www.fastforward.ca>
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
• Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
• Transporter, Unimog and Iltis Sales
• European Lighting for most Audi and Volkswagen models
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Dennis Haynes
Sent: August 31, 2001 9:20 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: VDO Gauge Guru
The cylinder head temp gauge works by the wires actually generating a small
voltage when heat. That is why the can not be changed at the spark plug end.
The oil temp gauge uses an RTD (resistive temperature device). Normal wiring
methods will work fine. Just make sure all connections, particularly any
grounds are clean and tight. What range of readings are you getting? Head
temps to 450 and oil temps to 270 are not uncommon. I do agree that these
are not acceptable but I have seen these readings often.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Stan Wilder
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 9:17 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: VDO Gauge Guru
I recently installed a set of VDO gauges and I've had some minor
inconsistencies on information.
The VDO cylinder head temp says *Don't shorten the wire in the kit". I'll
go along with that.
There is also a wiring installation kit for the VDO oil temp kit (I
didn't buy) and I was wondering if the oil temp was as critical as the
cylinder head temp as to the actual wire used to activate it. I'm using
standard automotive wiring for the oil temp gauge, I'm not liking the
high readings I'm getting and I'm certain that they are currently
incorrect.
Stan Wilder
83 Aircooled Westfalia
Still looking for that rear bumper........
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