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Hey all, Autometer is closed for the weekend. Curious if anyone knows of a temperature coolant gauge that I can screw right into my thermostat housing. I realize that it won't read anything until the thermostat opens up, but what I'm trying to do is double check my coolant temperature once the engine warms up and I want this as simple as possible.
As pictured, most temp gauges have a stem that goes into the plumbing to get a reading. Some can be off by as much as + 10%. If this is what you want, I would recommend 'T'ing off any of the water plugs that gives the most room. One such location is your hot water heater supply line. You will get your hot read once you open the heat up to the cabin. Do this for about 5 minutes without turning on the fan and you will be able to see your hot temp.
Another way to do this is to use a compression fitting at the location in your pic and install a thermocouple with a plug end that goes to a meter. You can take a reading anytime by plugging into a temp meter. These are usually more accurate.
Thanks all. Yes, I have the infrared gun; I am working on the road this week and don't know if it has a thermo-couple plug or what kind of compression fitting I'd need; surprisingly the normally-creative NAPA team was useless when I saw them Saturday.
I like the gauge shown and my original idea was to "T" something off of the heater loop as suggested; I left the photo I submitted up, as it seems like the least amount of work to give me the information I'm after.
I'd appreciate it if anyone posts pictures of what they did, assuming anyone else is as nuts as I am to do this. I'm a little off-put by the gauge accuracy. 10% of 190+? is pretty big deviation.
I'm a little off-put by the gauge accuracy. 10% of 190+? is pretty big deviation.
Agreed, but that's an extreme they give to cover their butts. It's likely a lot more accurate than that - I'd wager it's within 2-5%, or a maximum 10 degrees F (realistically).
I have a gauge hooked up to that elbow fitting, its a Equus pod gauge you can pick up at any auto store and it works well. I get the internal temp on the dash and the flowing temp after the stat opens and it really gives you a good read on how your engine temp is holding... The guage kit comes with the fitting for your hose elbow. I used non-setting sealant on the threads, never had a leak. I know you said direct fit into the elbow, but you could run one into the cab and also see it while your driving....
For anyone else looking for a direct mounted gauge, I found them through Moon and will order one on the 5th when they reopen from the holiday; here is the link: https://www.mooneyesusa.com/MOON-Dir...auge-s/196.htm
Agreed, but that's an extreme they give to cover their butts. It's likely a lot more accurate than that - I'd wager it's within 2-5%, or a maximum 10 degrees F (realistically).
you can PAY and get a much closer accuracy, we have gauges at work that are 1% or less but way too expensive for this application... just use a temp gun
you can PAY and get a much closer accuracy, we have gauges at work that are 1% or less but way too expensive for this application... just use a temp gun
Fert
I disagree with the temp gun method to be honest. Temp guns are great, but too many people rely on them without understanding what they're reading.
A great example is hot asphalt. I've been on jobs before where the asphalt was JUST dumped into a paver - reading with a temp gun says 170F (for example). I took a shovel and shuffled around the outter layer of the asphalt, took temp reading in the same spot again, it read 270F. Temp guns only read the outter most layer of what they're aimed at. Block temp (or radiator or radiator hose) vs coolant temp may vary significantly.
But to each their own. I prefer gauge over infrared thermometer // temp gun... those infrared guns can have wild accuracy issues as they may not be accurately calibrated out of the box.
I disagree with the temp gun method to be honest. Temp guns are great, but too many people rely on them without understanding what they're reading.
A great example is hot asphalt. I've been on jobs before where the asphalt was JUST dumped into a paver - reading with a temp gun says 170F (for example). I took a shovel and shuffled around the outter layer of the asphalt, took temp reading in the same spot again, it read 270F. Temp guns only read the outter most layer of what they're aimed at. Block temp (or radiator or radiator hose) vs coolant temp may vary significantly.
But to each their own. I prefer gauge over infrared thermometer // temp gun... those infrared guns can have wild accuracy issues as they may not be accurately calibrated out of the box.
you are correct, I just didn't want to get into insulation factors, laminar boundaries, or flows from thermodynamics.
So much conversation about temperature; great to know there is a lot of information in the group
Anyway, my gauge just came in the mail and I mounted it as I desired from my original post. I'm closing this thread and hope that somewhere else is someone who wants to know exactly how hot their truck is running (especially if they're towing like I plan to). p.s. Remember that the gauge will only read whatever it sitting from the heater loop and radiator, until the thermostat opens up; my thermostat opened between the "e" and "m" of my stock Temp indicator.
Nice!! Oil filled gauges will give a more stable reading, not causing the needle to jump around. You would especially see this is pressure applications. The only word of caution is that the back of the gauge can develop a pin hole leak allowing the oil to leak into your system. Not too critical here, but kep an eye on it just the same.
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Direct Mount Coolant Temperature Gauge?
!! Oil filled gauges will give a more stable reading, not causing the needle to jump around. You would especially see this is pressure applications. The only word of caution is that the back of the gauge can develop a pin hole leak allowing the oil to leak into your system. Not too critical here, but kep an eye on it just the same.
