[yoda-g3]

I keep having this constant back and forth argument in my head on what gauges to install in my 80.

Just to put things in perspective, I'm running:

Safari Turbo @ 8lbs
Unichip
Upgraded FMU
3" Exhaust / High Flow Cat
Upgraded Valve Body
Aux. Tranny Cooler
Turbo Timer

I plan on:

Decent towing (pulling 40 or a camper) on a fairly regular basis
Lots of sand dune playing
Lots of steep logging trails
Minimal rock crawling

I already have a boost gauge, and a tranny temp gauge, and I have one more opening in my pillar pod.

At first I wanted an A/F or an EGT to keep an eye on the turbo temps, but its tuned pretty nicely so I don't think I need to worry about lean out.

So that narrows it down to Coolant Temp, Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, Fuel Pressure, or maybe EGT if you think its worth monitoring.

I'm kind of leaning towards Coolant Temp, I'm familiar with the RavenTai mod, but I like having hard number in front of me, not just a blank needle sweep. (Plus it makes it more obvious to the when she's driving and I'm napping .) Also I don't want to potentially miss monitoring something else I should be if that mod will "get the job done".

So what are your thoughts? Should I just get the Coolant Temp and be done with it, or should I do the RavenTai and monitor something else more important? The nice thing is that the head is already tapped for the cooling line to the turbo so I could just make a "T" to splice the sender in.

[trojan_knight]

i have some westach dual guages in mine. I have oil temp and pressure in one guage. mine is square for an aircraft though. i got it at aircraftspruce.com

http://www.westach.com/gauge_images/2DC3.gif

[IBCRUSN]

SPA Technique makes some nice programmable units. I have one for tranny temp and coolant temp that I really like and works well.

SPA Technique

[KliersLC]

Well, you have oil pressure already, and the Temp guage mod is very user friendly as far as knowing what temp you are at. I think that EGT would be the way to go, just because your oil temp is pretty unlikely to spike, but if you don't really want to go that way, a fuel pressure gage would be cool. However, I think you might have that capability already with OBD II.


You could put in a washer bottle level guage.......

[yoda-g3]

Originally Posted by KliersLC

Well, you have oil pressure already, and the Temp guage mod is very user friendly as far as knowing what temp you are at. I think that EGT would be the way to go, just because your oil temp is pretty unlikely to spike, but if you don't really want to go that way, a fuel pressure gage would be cool. However, I think you might have that capability already with OBD II.


You could put in a washer bottle level guage.......

Hmmm, I'll start doing a little more research on the EGT route, that with the coolant temp mod might be a nice compromise. I like those dual gauges setups, just a little pricey. I need to do more research and figure out what EGT tells you exactly.


Though knowing the washer fluid level might come in handy.....

Thanks for the advice, feel free to keep it coming!

[Martin White]

EGT is one of the most important guages you can have on a modified TD. Particularly with your goal of heavy towing you may quickly find yourself getting into potentially engine damaging temps if you do not monitor these temps and take appropriate action, where required. I was close to shocked when I finally installed one on my stock truck. Temps were MUCH higher than I had realized. No damage done, but without knowing what's going on, you could end up causing huge damage.

[LX_TREME]

How about Oil cooler here? No oil cooler at all remember you running turbo.

[yoda-g3]

Originally Posted by LX_TREME

How about Oil cooler here? No oil cooler at all remember you running turbo.

I do have a funky looking little cooler coil right under the radiator, kind of looks like a heating element, is that a factory power steering cooler, or a small after market oil cooler? I can't really follow the hoses.

That has crossed my mind in the past. Is it a big advantage on a gas turbo? (Thought diesels got hotter.) I kind of assumed the Safari setup would've had an oil cooler if it was a big benefit. But you know what they say about assuming...

[LX_TREME]

Originally Posted by yoda-g3

I do have a funky looking little cooler coil right under the radiator, kind of looks like a heating element, is that a factory power steering cooler, or a small after market oil cooler? I can't really follow the hoses.

Do you have pic of funky little cooler

[yoda-g3]

Originally Posted by LX_TREME

Do you have pic of funky little cooler

Hehe, of course not. But it looks like this if you folded it in half like a long sandwich and removed all the fins (in and out ports on the same side). So basically just the tubing.

Linky

I'll try to snap a pic of it later, you've really got me curious now...

[KliersLC]

Diesels do tend to run hotter, but with the gas engine EGT can be just as important, especially if you have the original head gasket. If you plan on keeping the original HG, I'd get a new fan clutch and install an aux fan in front of the condenser

[CreeperSleeper]

Originally Posted by yoda-g3

Hehe, of course not. But it looks like this if you folded it in half like a long sandwich and removed all the fins (in and out ports on the same side). So basically just the tubing.

Linky

I'll try to snap a pic of it later, you've really got me curious now...

I believe your "funky cooler with no fins" is the PS cooler.

[RavenTai]

yep sounds like the factory PS cooler,

The 1FZ has a quite large water cooled oil cooler in the side of the block under the exhuast manifold,

Although the modded factory temp gauge is mostly blank changes in temperature are quite noticeable, some have complained too noticeable.

the factory oil pressure gauge works well and provides all the data needed.

I would do the mod and go for EGT in your remaining spot,

[yoda-g3]

Originally Posted by RavenTai

yep sounds like the factory PS cooler,

The 1FZ has a quite large water cooled oil cooler in the side of the block under the exhuast manifold,

Although the modded factory temp gauge is mostly blank changes in temperature are quite noticeable, some have complained too noticeable.

the factory oil pressure gauge works well and provides all the data needed.

I would do the mod and go for EGT in your remaining spot,

Thanks for the advice, I think that's the route I'm going to go now, unless I get some heavy persuasion in another direction.

Do all the 1FZ's have that oil cooler? With all the turbo crap on there I've never actually seen it, I'm assuming it would have to be pretty buried? I kind of wonder how efficient it is being so close to exhaust manifold and the turbo housing...

[RavenTai]

Yes all 1FZ's have this cooler, take a look from underneath it is that 10" or so long blister on the side of the block. it actually sits inside the block in the water jacket.

the exhaust manifold should not have much of an effect beyond the heat it is already tansmitting to the block anyway.

[Tapage]

Originally Posted by KliersLC

Diesels do tend to run hotter,

Actually Diesel Toy engines don't like anything above 190ºF and are very sensitive ( most if are non direct injected ) to head/piston temps ..