Engine temp warning gauges ?

www.enginesaver.com.au/Toyota_Nissan.htm

Have a look at this one

Call me paranoid if you like, but I have both the Engine Watchdog (temp alarm) as well as the Engine Saver Low Water Alarm.

In my opinion, both are equally necessary and perform different functions.

The temperature alarm will alert you if the engine temp gets above a pre-set level, which has nothing to do with low water levels. EG: You could have a severely blocked radiator from grass seeds or insects etc that is stopping the cooling process.

On the other hand, what would happen if your engine had a slow coolant leak over night while you're on an extended trip, camped in the outback? You start the engine in the morning as normal and the high temp alarm doesn't tell you anything about it being empty of coolant.....until (maybe) the engine gets too hot. This is where the Engine Saver Low Water Alarm comes into play. It will alert you IMMEDIATELY if there is no coolant on the high-mounted sensor. So, even if you've only lost a litre or so of coolant, that little sucker won't shut-up until you've investigated (and fixed) the low water issue.

I have the Low Water sensor in the top radiator hose and the high temp sensor bolted to the side of the block of my 6.5 Chev V8 diesel engine. I also have a VDO analogue coolant gauge which has it's sensor in the back of the left head (arguably the hottest part of the coolant cycle on this engine).

Roachie

hid200dug
i have an engine watchdog and has proved reliable and worth the money
and as for margo just tell if ya break down
she walks ---- lol
happy travells

I have an exhaust gas temperature guage (EGT) and it works well. Gives you a good idea of how hard the engine is working constantly, useful for towing.

D200Dug, When it comes to monitoring engine temperature a gauge is useful but an alarm, both audible and visual, is essential.

Engine temperature can soar to a destructive level within seconds if you suffer sudden loss of water due to such as a ruptured hose but you will probably not notice the engine temperature gauge rise as you are concentrating on the road.

A load audible alarm of both temperature and water level will warn you instantly and so avert catastrophic damage.

I've got one of those engine watchdogs.

Modified it so its got two sensors.

One is permanently attached to the gearbox as an indicator of temps there ... and I swap the other one around to diffs/engineblock/transfer case etc.

The temp alarm is set for the gearbox but with a flick of a switch I can do a quick check on the item Im interested at the time.

Seems to be a good bit of kit ... but doesnt replace service/maintenance.

As the others have said ... the two brands are for two different purposes ... and both are useful extras.

Not havving a shot at Anyone but a good driver checks his important gauges constantly.

I do after having it drummed into me when bus driving.

Gauges ,mirrors gauges mirrors.

Pays off.

Having nearly cooked an engine at 23k from new when the drain plug fell out of the radiator on a very rough/corrugated dirt road where you tend to watch the road rather than the gauges. The Toyota temp gauge was reading normal and then dropped to the cool side as the coolant departed as I glanced at it, I pulled up immediately and shut the engine down, the paint on the head of the 2H diesel was bubbling as it was so hot, wouldn't turn over on the starter after it was stopped and it was only an hour or so later after replacing the plug, refilling with hot water that it reluctantly turned over and started to run roughly. Ever since I have fitted low water alarms to every vehicle I've owned and a few years ago fitted the temp alarm as well, both necessary on off road vehicles IMHO.l

Would have saved me over $8000 on a rebuild if I had fitted one a while back. Cheap insurance.

Josh

Neither help for annother scenario wher you lose the fanbelt

But its not such a big deal, the radiator header tank going off like grenade, gives you a hint that maybe you should pull over and take look

No low water (alarm dosnt work as its still covered with water and pressurised)
Temp dosnt rise quickly at the sensor as the water pump isnt working

Water jacket boils quickly with out water circuilation overpressurises the system (faster than the rad cap can cope with)
Plastic header tank lets go better than any alarm gets your attention real quick.

estimate 30 sec from when fanbelt stipped comlaining (failure) to detonation

Was in a sutuation where I had to keep on the loud pedal.

Dam 100 series fanbelt always having to adjust due to high alternator loads, charging depleted Aux AGM batteries (high charge / current acceptance)

But Agree low water and high temp ( correctly positioned)

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