Date:         Fri, 15 Oct 1999 09:02:14 -0500
Reply-To:     Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: VDO gauges
Comments: To: Madsen <madsen@HOME.COM>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Hi Ken,
    Your 87 van already has an adequate oil pressure sensing system.  If the oil alarm is not going off your wasser boxer is happy with the amount of oil it  has circulating. 
     If I could have only one gauge on a 2.1L wasser boxer I would add a water pressure gauge. Overton's (overtons.com) has one 0-30 psi that is reasonably easy to T into one of the 7mm water hoses in the engine compartment. Comes with everything you need to install, it is a standard 2 inch black with white letters even says engine water on the face.  These are normally used for boating / outboard engines. The water pressure will drop before your engine has lost much coolant from a minor leak or if you start your engine and the pressure rises quickly an internal head gasket has sprung a leak. Nice stuff to know on a water leaker and the quicker the better. Most leaks on our vans are not the hose bursting but slow drips here and there which the water pressure gauge will alert you to in plenty of time. I have had only one hose burst and many many drip failures. After the blown hose I rehosed my 86. Incidentally this is the only time I have been left by the side of the road with a vw. 
    After water pressure the volt meter gauge is a handy gauge and can also give advance warning and possible a breakdown / dead battery out on the road. With it you know how your battery and alternator are functioning. 
    On my 78 westy 2L air cooled I like both an oil pressure and oil temperature first on the list, then a volt meter.  If I had a 1.9L wasser boxer I would install both an oil pressure and water pressure,  then a volt meter.      
Darrell Boehler
   
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Madsen 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Thursday, October 14, 1999 11:54 PM
  Subject: VDO gauges


  I'm conteplating which VDO gauge I should get first. Oil pressure or oil temperature gauge. Does anyone have an opinion which is most important? Can only afford 1 right now. Be nice to know whats going on way back there in the engine compartment.

  Ken Madsen
  Whitby, ON
  87GL

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