Like the thread title says,I'm considering an aftermarket temp gauge to supplement my cooling system upgrades and keep my car that much safer. Does anyone have any brand or type recommendations, and what all is involved in installing one?
Thanks, TW

 

VDO makes quality gauges that don't cost an arm and a leg.
I got mine from eGauges.com.

 

meh, if you have an s4 I don't see the point as long as your stock gauge is working. It has a linear sweep.

 

That may be true but it's not giving you numbers to work with.

I hate it when people post here and talk about their temp being "just over 1/4 of the gauge"...it means nothing to me.

 

+1 for VDO.

Often can buy an electric unit and sender for less than other brands charge for mechanical gauges.

 

Maddad gauges, the STI guys swear by them and I picked up a set cheap.
Defi quality stepper motors, full sweep at startup, warning beep at the temp you preset and peak/hold settings.
But they are not cheap

 

I had a set of Vdo's in my E30
great gauges

check into pro-sport gauges too.

 

Fair enough. Although 1/4 of the gauge is about 195 F or 90 C on a brand new factory water thermosensor, according to my Power FC. 1/8 of the way up, or just above the "cold" line, is about 180.

 

You make my point.
You need a Power FC to correlate with the stock gauge to come up with a hard number.
For @ $40 a VDO gauge/sending unit gives the same number directly.

 

Autometer are great gauges, never had a problem with them. As for water temp, part# 3337 for me, thats what I always use. It fits well with the OEM gauges.

Spec.

 

I use a Cyberdyne gauge (Skynet upgrade available for an additional charge.)

http://www.cyberdynegauges.net/tempe...gesproduct.php <- bottom of the page

 

I have an autometer sport-comp temp gauge which works well and isn't too expensive.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-3337/


I installed the sensor in the top radiator hose (using an adapter thing of course) so I didn't have to remove and tap the water pump housing. The bad part about this is that I don't get a reading from the autometer until after the engine warms up and the thermostat opens. My stock gauge works fine, so it's not really a problem unless the thermostat and stock gauge fail at the same time.

 

dont waste ur money with those aftermarket gauges. just buy an "equus" and called it a day. cheaper and the quality is as good as autometer.

 

what's an equus?

EDIT: nevermind. thanks, google.

Those equus gauges are really cheap.

 

http://www.equus.com/

I have been using them in my old school RX-3s, FB and former FC for years. stay away from sunpro, autogage or any water temp gage. the unit is not sealed, it will pick up additional heat from the engine bay so the temp is not very accurate

 

but that's what TimX-7 is looking for.

just out of curiosity, do you have a pic of one that's unsealed? what's it look like?

 

sunpro and autogage's lines have wire-looms for protection but its not sealed like the equus, vdo and autometer

its the black one, runs from firewall to back of water pump housing




close up pix



gauges in one of my RX-3. I chose the black faced ones to match with orig gauges (purchased at kragen for less than $60 for triple gauge)

 

Do you mean a mechanical gauge picking up heat on the tube?