Oil temp meter
Has anyone had any experience installing an oil temp instrument meter for a 463 g500 (2000 model) ? If so, is it an easy job and are there any specific meters out there that more or less look origional? All my other cars have and have had them and it is an indication of proper engine condition to me. Much more important than coolant temp. It annoys me it doesn't come standard on my G.
I dare say no one on this forum has done this work. The work its self is not too bad to do. Your choices are from fitting either mechanical or electronic gauges which will read in either PSI or BAR.
The mechanical guage requires oil pipe feed to be routed from the engine compartment, through the bulkhead and to your selected position of the pressure gauge. There is a small risk of oil leaking into the vehicle interior if an oil leak should occur. The electronic kit has the oil sensors contained in the engine compartment and an electric feed routed from the sensor to the interior to the place of gauge dial. There is no mess of oil contamination in case of an oil leak here.
Point of oil pick up is a matter of consideration here; usually this is taken form the oil pressure switch where a T-piece would be inserted into the circuit. One part feeding oil pressure to the oil switch and the other part feeding pressure to the oil pressure gauge in the case of of a mechanical gauge. For the electric gauge, the other feed as it were, would have a sensor screwed into it and a wire feed routed to the pressure gauge.
Personnaly, I favour the latter. Sadly at this moment I have no any access to any M113 engine illustrations to study the oil switch set up.
I have seen the addition to a diesel G, try dropping Tony Brugger a PM and see if he can help?
HTH
Spider1V
Hi Jan
The oil temperature will be influenced by a number of variables including pressure, ambient operating temperature, viscosity, oil grade, age, etc. However, as you say, it's possible to use oil temperature as an indication of performance - but not with any more accuracy than your existing pressure gauge.
I have seen the oil temp gauges on diesel engines destined for use in Russia, Norway and Iceland. However, these applications included heaters in the oil sump to maintain oil viscosity and the temp gauge included an interlock to the heater battery. The temperature probe was located in the side wall of the oil sump using a recessed PT100 temperature well feeding back to dash mounted instrument.
Technically, it should be possible to retrofit temp indicator. However, I would not recommend the retrofit. Your G looks too good to warrant this effort for fairly small benefit return. Ultimately, your G is engineered to work on oil pressure as an engine condition monitor.
Best of luck though if you decide to proceed. I'd be interested to know what solution you decide on.
Derek
Thanks Derek, afraid my car comes with no pressure gauge so all I have to measure the engine temp is with the coolant temp which as you know can be 90 celcius in 10 mins while the engine oil is still cold and does not show you when engine oil condition is warmed properly and optimal for higher revs and higher loads. I do a lot of mountain driving (virtually every weekend during Dec to April) and have a 30 mins trek of hairpins and inclines which in my other cars typically raise oil temp by 10-15 deg celcius and sometimes in the summer when hot I have had it go up 20-25 deg over standard operating temp which kind of makes you aware to take things a bit easier and maybe pull over for a little breather. Again the coolant temp might raise a few degrees but won't give you the feedback required how hard the engine is working. I have seen a few examples of retrofitting a probe via the oil sump plug but not sure how effective that is.
jan
Hello Jan,
I am sorry, the oil temperature gauge could be fitted in a similar manner to the oil pressure gauge but the sensor for the temp. gauge would be needed to be mounted into the sump.
Alternatively, it is possible to buy a dip stick sensor, that is the most quickest way to fit. VDO have done kits applied to the VW air-cooled market. Their dip stick cover some length; I do not know if this enough in th M113 engine.
Do you know that there is an oil sensor fitted as standard to your G500 which monitors oil level, temperature and quality? All info is processed by the ECU and you will be notified if necessary :)
Gotcha, thanks for your help guys.
jan
Can't you buy a Oil temp guage pref an analogue one, buy an oil pressure switch, ( Check you have enough external space around existing oil switch, take switch/Oil temp guage sender to local engineer/fabricator/lathe expert and get them to make T piece /adaptor? Fit as required, check very carefully for leaks....
VDO 52mm visionline and other ranges match G oe.
VW and Audi from 80's had neat oil press + oil temp + volts in pod , often on ebay ,around 35 - 50 quid
Have fitted the above to several of my G's
Use T piece where oil light switch is fitted on yr G - from ebay ,demon tweaks etc
Also from ebay are senders to suit and all adaptors needed.[note - MB use HIGH pressure oil pumps so 0-10 bar needed , not 0-5 .
Beware ..MB use metric but every one else uses npt/bsp thread - plenty of adaptors availble.
Check egauges.com ,usa site for every vdo gauge known - I use exhaust gas temp and boost ones on my project engines - 52 mm will just fit 460 dash blank spaces - have posted pics in the past
Remember ,plenty on ebay under vdo
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Thanks rakesh! your feedback much appreciated. However I want to read the oil temperature not the pressure. Believe that should be an easier install than a pressure gauge.