 What CHT gauge should I get?, opinions and experiences wanted |
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| Hammy |
 Jan 2 2007, 08:44 PM
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#1
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mr. Wonderful  Group: Members Posts: 1,827 Joined: 20-October 04 From: Columbia, California Member No.: 2,978 Region Association: Northern California  |
I need to start monitoring my head temps......
I have an after market center console from Morph (excellent quality) that I want to mount the gauge in. I'm stuck choosing between a regular ol' VDO CHT gauge from CB performance or an Odyssey Series II CHT gauge from Dakota Digital. See it here The VDO is about half price and is pretty simple. The only thing I'm worried about is the gauge reading high or low when it's hot or cold outside. Plus that needle looks kind of hard to read. I looks like it goes by 50 degrees, how can you even tell if it's 350 or 400 or 375 or 385? The Dakota Digital unit is temperature compensating with a nice, easy to read digital display. It's also about doubt the price of a VDO. Anyone have experiences with either, and can tell me any thoughts, experiences? |
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| Joe Bob |
Jan 2 2007, 08:56 PM
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#2
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Retired admin, banned a few times Group: Members Posts: 17,427 Joined: 24-December 02 From: Boulder CO Member No.: 5 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Hammy @ Jan 2 2007, 06:44 PM)  I need to start monitoring my head temps...... I have an after market center console from Morph (excellent quality) that I want to mount the gauge in. I'm stuck choosing between a regular ol' VDO CHT gauge from CB performance or an Odyssey Series II CHT gauge from Dakota Digital. See it here The VDO is about half price and is pretty simple. The only thing I'm worried about is the gauge reading high or low when it's hot or cold outside. Plus that needle looks kind of hard to read. I looks like it goes by 50 degrees, how can you even tell if it's 350 or 400 or 375 or 385? The Dakota Digital unit is temperature compensating with a nice, easy to read digital display. It's also about doubt the price of a VDO. Anyone have experiences with either, and can tell me any thoughts, experiences? VDO has more than one gauge face. I had a gauge made by Wesstach...they do airplanes, surprisingly cheap. They made a CHT and voltmeter combo with two idjut lights for my 3.6 in my 911....I needed an extra warning light for the smog weenies and the belt tensioner sender.... |
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| jniemeier |
Jan 2 2007, 09:17 PM
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#3
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 7-December 03 From: Western New York Member No.: 1,424 |
I added two VDO gages to my center console. I figurd the left and right sides could have seperate faults, so better watch both. I made a seperate black vinyl covered board to mount them along with the usual three gages. I put the CHT's side by side at the to of the stack. Looks OK. In ten minutes I can swap the stock board back in. Interesting having two... They don't run exactly the same. Also, amazing to see how quickly the heads heat up.
Jim N. '73 2.0 I need to start monitoring my head temps...... |
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| Jake Raby |
Jan 2 2007, 10:01 PM
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#4
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Engine Surgeon Group: Members Posts: 9,398 Joined: 31-August 03 From: Lost Member No.: 1,095 Region Association: South East States |
The only instruments that can be bought for less than 400.00 each that are temperature compensated come from Dakota Digital... Temperature compensation means a lot to head temp gauges as they are only totally accurate at 76F otherwise..
I just used these as back up instruments for the new R&D Dyno that I am building as we speak... Here ya go... I have 3,000 hours in this test cell and I'm not done yet! (IMG:http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/324511.jpg) (IMG:http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/324512.jpg)Westach has went down in quality recently and VDO turned to total shit in 2004... Today it was 40F on my way home from work, the Westach gauge in my 912E showed 350F, that means the actual head temp was 36 degrees less.... In the summer if it's 100F outside the head temp gauge will show 24F LESS than the actual temp... Unless you like adding and subtracting, buy a Dakota Digital, if you have 400 bucks buy a SPA like these that drive my datalogger... (IMG:http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/customers/bolsen/invitem24067.JPG) |
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| Hammy |
Jan 2 2007, 10:21 PM
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#5
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mr. Wonderful Group: Members Posts: 1,827 Joined: 20-October 04 From: Columbia, California Member No.: 2,978 Region Association: Northern California |
Yeah, I'm not up for the whole adding subtracting thing. Especially while driving (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Jake, am I right that the difference between the Odyssey II and the Solarix gauge is just the bezel color ? |
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| Jake Raby |
Jan 3 2007, 07:58 AM
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#6
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Engine Surgeon Group: Members Posts: 9,398 Joined: 31-August 03 From: Lost Member No.: 1,095 Region Association: South East States |
Yep.. Mine are solarix and have the blue bezel which looks cool with the theme of the dyno room and stands out on the brushed 304 staionless steel control panel.
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| Joe Ricard |
Jan 3 2007, 08:46 AM
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#7
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CUMONIWANNARACEU Group: Members Posts: 6,811 Joined: 5-January 03 From: Gautier, MS Member No.: 92 |
I have a VDO hooked to #4 cyl. and a dual read Westach hooked to 1 and 3 cyl. Yep they read different between the two gauges.
But it gives an idea of what is going on. I have backed up my readings with my tire/brake contact probe pyrometer. There is a knock out plug on the VDO provides access to the potentiometer (sp) This way you can REALLY screw up the readings. |
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| McMark |
Jan 3 2007, 02:21 PM
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#8
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
I bought one from aircraft spruce. I don't feel like retyping the whole thing, so click here to see it.
Cost less than $100 total and is temperature compensated, so no mathematics during use. I do like the digital, because my one complaint about the Micro1000 is that the range is so small that you can't get very accurate numbers. |
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| Grimstead |
Jan 3 2007, 03:05 PM
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#9
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Cheaky Monkey Group: Members Posts: 835 Joined: 20-March 05 From: Corona, Ca Member No.: 3,789 Region Association: Southern California |
QUOTE(McMark @ Jan 3 2007, 12:21 PM) I bought one from aircraft spruce. I don't feel like retyping the whole thing, so click here to see it. Cost less than $100 total and is temperature compensated, so no mathematics during use. I do like the digital, because my one complaint about the Micro1000 is that the range is so small that you can't get very accurate numbers. Hey that's the same one I put in my car yesterday, go figure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) |
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