Scan Guage OR Engine Watchdog...???

Hi Fred,

I have the scanguage on my 200 and while it can meaure things like auto gearbox temp, coolant temp and post-intercooler temp, amongst a myriad of other things, it doesn't have any alarm capabilities. But it still has so many useful features, including the ability to read and clear fault codes, that it should be high on your priority list of purchases for your new vehicle.

But if you want alarm capablities, then something like the Watchdog would be required.

Cheers

Captain

Hi Fred

Congratulations on the new car. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I have mine.

I bought the scan gauge, engine watch dog, turbo temp gauge, and engine saver. The engine save is a low coolant alarm that fits into the plug on top of your radiator and there is no way you could stand that noise in your car if it goes off.

http://www.enginesaver.com.au/Toyota_Nissan.htm

Cheers

Serendipity

PS - I also feed mine two stroke oil every fill up of diesel.

I dont know about the V8 diesel Fred but normally there is a blanked tapped hole in the top radiator tank or upper or lower themostat housing you can use, but Watchdog is just a bolt on Sensor for the head or upper block. It measures temp not low coolant. I made my own low coolant setup and works fine for about $60
Michael

I use the Watchdog on my LC100 - seems very reliable - I have the sensor fitted to a bolt near the front of the head. Good display, loud enough alarm and easy to adjust the tripping point. It has gone off once or twice when the engine was turned off on hot days and the block temperature had risen (normal of course) - I just needed to 'up' the set margin a bit (but those occasions are a unit test in themselves :-o).

Ditto for engine saver, a great product & David the boss is a very friendly & helpful guy who stands behind the product & will answer all your questions.... As previously mentioned a low coolant alarm is probably better than a high temp alarm ( in the first instance). I also have a scan gauge which is a great tool/driving aid
Usual disclaimer no association with engine saver
Enjoy your new Tojo

I'm one of those people who regularly monitor the vehicle instrumentation. I've noticed with the Scan Gauge that when cruising the temperature is steady but when under load like going up a hill you can see the temperature increase in one degree increments and then decrease when going down hill and or back to cruising. I'm very happy with the Scan Gauge, but will I notice it when really needed... hopefully

hi fred b
i have a watchdog unit on my old bravo
i tryed it at the front at first
but after shifting it to the rear of the block i found it was
much more sensitive to engine temp changes in comparison to the front mounting point where it was in the fan slip stream
and on one occasion when a top hose failed it went off very promply and also varies when road changes from flat to hills
i mounted it at the rear because that area of the engine is away from the direct fan draft of air and rises quickly in temp
if a fan belt or hose fails and /or water level drops
in the above instance
the engine temp gauge didnt start to change until well after the falure of the hose where as the watchdog had done its barking and saved the day
by the time the vehicles temp gauge register the change i have found over the years the damage is done which is typical for most vehicle temp gauges
so i give my vote to the watchdog
cheers barry

Hi All,
thankyou for your replies; after reading your replies and my own research, I have decided to go with Scanguage, Watchdog and Engine saver. All offer different things, so we will see how we go. With the possibility of $20 - $30K engine repairs if things go wrong, it's worth a couple of hundred in insurance... lol.. (:

Still looking at the possability of installing "water watch" in the fuel line as well.

regards