Are gauges a good idea or will I just panic more?

So as Luu's engine has a cracked cylinder head I've bitten the bullet and decided to upgrade to a 1641 setup. This has got me thinking, I really want to protect my engine and wondered if getting some gauges to keep an eye on what's happening is a good idea. Question is though which ones?

I've looked at a combo set of oil temp and pressure:-

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares....product_pID_108621521_lang_EN_country_GB.htm

I've always fancied one of those big tacho's - purely because they look cool but having seen the price I'm now changing my mind

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares...hop.product_pID_142771_lang_EN_country_GB.htm

My mechanic has also suggested removing the flaps but as I've read copious threads about that without a definitive answer I think we'll ignore that question for the time being

So what should I get or should I save my money for something else?

 

Get an in dash tachometer, they're cool and work well.
Gauges do make you worry but I've done a 1000 mile trip and I don't think I'd have made it had I not kept an eye on them.
They're all simple to fit so I'd recommend them.

 

I was told not to, as I would be looking at them, I do look at them, but it keep my mind at rest.
at the end of the day when the warning light comes on the dash the engines fubar, so is pointless, id rather have a bit of warning, like when I had a split oil hose before I got the hydraulic ones. the pressure gauge I fitted dropped off the scale and I shut the engine off.
the warning light would have come on when it run out of oil! I was lucky to have it and would fit again

 

I say get them. It's better to know what's going on with your engine than just driving along in ignorance. Just know what the readings on them mean and how they relate to what your engine is doing. Also don't forget your ears and gut feeling are your best gauges.

 

Cheers Mark, do you reckon a cylinder head temp gauge is better than an oil temp gauge?

 

I have a oil temp gauge fitted and I hate it makes me feel paranoid and ruins my driving experience! I cover it up with a cloth and peek at it every hour or so on a long journey! Until I covered it up I just couldn't stop looking at the bloody thing it drove me mad....

 

I have to say I think I'd be the same way lol

 

I prefer the name "pre empt" gauges. Wish I could afford them.

 

I cant work out the pattern of the readings either and I wonder how accurate they really are. On a recent trip down the M5 to Devon doing 55 - 60mph 150miles the temperature rose significantly at the gauge when the outside temperature rose and I wouldn't have thought that from 21 to 27 would have made that much difference to oil temperature but the gauge defo read hotter. Also when I turn the motor off then back on after a few seconds the gauge falls in temp quite a bit. bloody thing

 

I'd find another mechanic...

 

my van has 3 extra fitted, a battery voltage one which is good to see if your fan belt has snapped or is slipping (although in a type 4 it doesn't really matter as much as a type 1 if the alternator runs) a ammeter which i have no idea what it does so i'd like to change that one, and a cht one, this one is the one what i used to worry about as when i 1st got the van everyone said it ran too hot, but after installing all the cooling tin ans flaps etc it's found a level and although hotter than some people say it should be i put that down to being out of calibration and i now ignore the numbers and use it as a cold/normal/high marker, if it went higher than i'd ever had it i would know to stop so some are good i suppose.

 

and there's us thinking you'd found a good one....
he should work for vw, he could save them millions removing parts the research department spent designing.

 

His reasoning is that if a new thermostats fail in probably will in the closed position, I'm not sure if he meant removing them flaps altogether or locking them in the open position. His theory is that he does it with ever vehicle, its safer than a thermostat failing and they've never overheated.

I asked what the cons were and he said it takes longer to warm up, from what I've read this will use more petrol and cause more wear. As I want to use the bus for winter camping (the joy of propex) I don't like the idea of the engine taking so long to warm up (not to mention costing me more in go-go juice ) so I'm going to ask him to reinstate them.

The funny thing I found from reading all the threads about it on here is that a lot of the mechanics (definitely @Birdy and @zed) are running without them!

 

with a type 1 engine you are correct, if they fail they fail closed, this was a bad design, and correct also there are a hell of a lot of people running without, my van (type 4) had absolutely everything missing when it came from america, i presume the california heat made the previous owner think it would be ok, it doesn't seem to have done any damage (although i'm not going to strip it until it expires) apart from possible premature wear, a couple of things to note, with missing tin and no flaps/stat the oil discoloured very quickly, with re-instated tin but no flaps it was fine, indeed the only thing i have noticed with the flaps is the engine regulates itself a lot better - the temp guage rises earlier and if it gets hot from fast driving or hill climbing it falls faster.

 

I've owned my camper 9years. The engine was newish when I got it and doesn't have flaps. It's been fine, though if I was buying a new engine I was also reinstate the flaps! I've had oil temp gauge for 2years now. Doesn't stress me out! I go with the theory it worked fine without one! The figures you get used to so you know what's normal for your van. I found it taught me a lot about how the cooling works. Outside temp does effect oil temp. And it cools sat in traffic!