ATTENTION THERMOGUARD INSTRUMENTS

G'day blokes,
I know that Ian is currently on the east coast somewhere, not in Alice Springs (or at least that was the case a week or so ago.)

My Patrol is in the workshop today haveing the exhaust manifold drilled and tapped for 1/8" bsp thread to take the thermocouple unit. I walked up to the industrial area of town about an hour ago to have a look at the progress. I'm glad i didn't tackle this myself!! It's taken the bloke all morning to do the job and he was just starting to put it all back together when i left to walk back to work.

I had already installed the digital readout unit and wired it all up. I'd left the thermocouple taped to the air con pipe well above the manifold....maximum temp on a few short runs on the weekend was 65 degrees C (not that that info is worth 2 cents!!! hahaha).

Captain, if your cab is like mine you are probably running out of room to mount "stuff". I found that the unit sits nicely on top of the steering column, attached with a 2" wide strip of velcro. The wires are then out of view, going down between the steering column and the bottom of the instument panel. The steering column is still fully tilt adjustable. There is enough room to fit the plastic box Ian supplied (for an extra $25-) between the steering wheel and the instrument cluster. Keeps the info right in your face, but not to the point of distraction.

I am pleased with the overall result so far (so long as the mechanics didn't get ANY crap in the turbo.....They removed the turbo from the manifold so that no metal rubbish would get in it.

You might be better off trying to phone Ian on his mobile as I recall him saying he had been having trouble with his internet/email because of a thunderstorm taking out his modem; but that should have been fixed by now, surely.

Cya....

Just got the ol' girl back and went for a short drive out of town to see what the gauge would tell me. At 100klicks, the gauge went up to 350c or thereabouts. That's a long way short of the suggested 720c maximum, but then again there was no load hanging off the towbar, no head wind and ambient temp is only mid to high 20's.

I'll be driving by this gauge from now on.....but also keeping an eye on the others...hahaha

Hi Roachie,

Thanks for that, explains why he hasn't been answering.

I take it you installed the sensor prior to the turbo? I am very reluctant to do this as I do not think you can ensure all metal swarf is gone unless you remove the turbo. And I do not want to take the turbo off as "if" I ever do have an engine/turbo problem I do not want Nissan to have an excuse. So if I do install, I want to do it immediately after the turbo.

Now on the 4.2TD I believe the elbow immediately after the turbo is quite a flow restriction and fitting a larger one decreases back pressure. My thoughts are that if I need to get a tapping point in this elbow, I may as well fit a larger elbow while I am at it. Was planning on posting a question to see if any other 3.0TD owners have fitted a bigger elbow (not the whole exhaust) and what the effect was. May find it makes no difference so can stick to a standard elbow.

As for gauge location, I have what I think is a good spot in the side of my overhead console. I already have my GPS on the steering column, damn handy spot for it. The front section of the console has the Barret remote head so there is a fair bit of room behind it to fit the gauge, basically above the rearview mirror. But what I don't know is whether the standard cable from the sensor will reach to the console or whether it can be extended. Just some of the questions I had for Ian.

Anyway, glad your fitment seems to have gone well. may just have one for myself shortly ;)

Cheers

Captain

G'day Captain,

Have you seen Ian's response from this morning (below this follow-up I am typing now)?

I have had the new elbow dump pipe fitted with full 3" exhaust system. In hindsight, if I'd known about EGT gauges at that time, I would have had a suitable mounting point/nut welded to that elbow before it went on and would have settled for the after-turbo location too. Mine rig now has 145000klm on the clock and is well past it's warranty, so removing the turbo to do the hole in the manifold wasn't an issue for me from that perspective. I'm still glad I had it done there, right where ALL gases combine to enter the turbo.

The cable from the thermo-couple is fairly long and should go very close to reaching your overhead console. If not, I can see no reason why it could not be extended by soldering extra cable and using shrink tubing etc. Just remember, yellow is "+"......but it's all in the instructions.

G'day Roachie,
Any chance of a pic (or 2) of your thermocouple installation? Presumably, you'd have had to modify the manifold heat-shield, or did you remove that altogether?.. & presumably, there is enough metal thickness to take a thread where you located yours?..
Been wanting to fit one o' them there pyrometers for quite some time, but put it on the back-burner due to the afore-mentioned "complications"... If I can see just where to drill & tap, I might just go ahead & do it!.. If & when I do, I'll go with VDO for no reason other than to match the other gauges already fitted...(Sorry Ian)..
If you'd send some pics to
edjan
at bigpond
dot com , I'd appreciate it... TIA..

Catch ya later...
Regards, Ed. C.

G'day Ed,
No worries, I'll see if i can take some piccy's after work today. I think Ian has an option of using a 2" (VDO?) gauge too. I like the digital readout....it also has the ability to store minimum and maximum temps which can be reset to zero at any time too.
Here's hoping the digi camera will work!!!! lolol

Sorry Ian I haven't received any emails as of yet.
Try my email address direct lonards@bigpond.net.au

Hi Ian,

Will contact you via the member message

Cheers

Captain

80scruiser,

I replied again to your bigpond address yesterday - have any of my messages turned up yet?? If not, something strange must be happening with bigpond. If you'd like, please send a phone no. to info@thermoguard.com.au and I call you back.

Captain,

I've still not yet received anything from you. Have you sent anything since yesterday?

Apologies again for these communications hassles - I really would like to talk to you gentlemen about EGTs!

Ian

Hi Ian,

I replied to your member message yesterday, did you get it? I too would like to talk EGT's :) If I don't get a reply via member message today, I will try your email address direct.

Cheers

Captain

Captain,

Sorry, but no, I've received no message. In fact, as an advertiser, I'm not sure I even qualify for 'Member Messages' - will have to check with David & Michelle.

Would you please try me again on info@thermoguard.com.au. If you prefer to send a phone no., I'll call you back.

Again I apologise for the hassles - I really don't know what's gone wrong here...

Regards,
Ian