TheSamba.com :: View topic - Is this the Dakota CHT gauge people always recommend?

Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:11 am

I'm asking because the ad says "cylinder head temp" but also says "exhaust gas" - is that the way to do it?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=822759

Also, doesn't that just read one head for you (or an average, if you install it after the merge)? Seems like you would want separate info for both heads...

Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:30 am

that is a probe that goes into the exhaust gas stream and monitors the exhaust temperature. It is known as an EGT and is commonly used in aircraft. Aircraft engines have mixture controls and they are set to different mixtures at different altitudes by monitoring the temperature of the exhaust gas. A cyl head temp gauge is different in that it monitors how hot the head metal is.

Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:07 am

Here is the one I use....

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=...prd347.htm

with the 18' sender.

Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:36 am

So this is the sender (below)

You put that under a spark plug?

What about the 2-heads-one-gauge problem? I guess you are assuming that they are both doing about the same, as an indicator of general engine temp/load/performance, and not really a way of keeping track of one versus the other?

Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:45 pm

Yes that is the sender that goes under the #3 spark plug.

I don't worry about having 2 heads and one guage. Never been a problem for me.

Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:48 pm

For the most part, on T-1 motors #3 runs the hottest. That is where you put the sender. But on T-4s, If the cooling system is up to par ( it is way more efficient than the T-1 ) there is debate as to which cyl. to put it on because the cooling air is more evenly dispersed. Some say it does not matter which one you use. Others use the #3 due to old habits.

Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:57 pm

i may be talked into selling mine, if your in the market, only reason i'm posting this here is your local. you want the longest sender they got i think it's the 14' one, i can let you know tonight what the part number is and all the components you need to run it, it's all @ my house in a box, pulled it out when the new engine went in and have never gotten around to reinstalling it.

+ my mental health is better not knowing what my cht is.....

Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:15 pm

I'm considering getting a CHT. It might help space out the duration between times I nuke the motor a little.
The dual probe CHT gauges have my interest. Was thinking of putting probes on #1 and #3 on my 1800. I figure that's the best places to put them as the cooling air has already been warmed by 1 & 4 so they may run a little hotter.

I have also strongly been considering the gauges that are the right size to fit the clock hole. There is an LED 8 segment display tacho there currently but after 10 years am a bit sick of it. I also have another tacho under the dash anyway.
The tacho is usually only good for mental calibration anyway. My brain is usually good for about +/- 100rpm. If only I had a tiny shred of musical skill to go with sense of pitch, but no.

Would I be silly to mount a large one in the clock hole, or should I just put a smaller one ...somewhere. Where on earth are you people mounting your gauges so you can see them?

Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:20 pm

When I used the VDO series...although I still have the tach in there...

Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:44 pm

theizzardking wrote: + my mental health is better not knowing what my cht is.....

especially if you plan on going places other than the local dub show to show off your fancy gauges...

/used to want fancy gauges
//never been to a dub show

Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:54 pm

yeah i had them and was driving by them, lol i didn;t need a speedo,tach,or even a windshield sometimes as i was looking at that dam thing so much!

i'm now part of the feel it know it drive it crowd, but as far as guages go if your getting them get the DD's they look friggn sweet and work better than the vdo ones

the dd cht gauge has an ambient air compensator in it to account for well the ambient air temp so you know your getting the best reading, vdo gauges you get none of that, pure and simple mech gauge device, so it's stupid and doesn't know what your trying to measure. i just like the DD's

Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:46 pm

theizzardking wrote: yeah i had them and was driving by them, lol i didn;t need a speedo,tach,or even a windshield sometimes as i was looking at that dam thing so much!

i'm now part of the feel it know it drive it crowd

that's my point......

you can drive around looking at this...and worrying.

or seeing things like this...out my front window...

and wondering if I am gonna pull that next grade...(HWY 20 NW WA)

any guesses on what my CHT was?

I bet hot!

Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:53 pm

Not trying to thread jack, but :-S what do typically see for temp on cylinder #3? I had a Bradley GT kitcar that didn't have a seal seperating the air on the top of the engine from the bottom. I would see 350+F. :shock:

Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:56 pm

Bradgt74 wrote: I would see 350+F. :shock:

Do you think 350f is Hot?

Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:45 pm

73kombi wrote:
you can drive around looking at this...and worrying.
....
or seeing things like this...out my front window...

Why not do both, and not worry?

Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:11 pm

73kombi wrote:

For the record the bus was not running on the cold spring morning when I took that picture. I never watch the gauges either as they "flash" when something exciting happens. OT > 230º CHT > 400º OP < 11 psi. Catches even my spousal unit's attention.

Gauges should only be used to alert you to something that is out of the ordinary. Example if your OTs are usually around 200º then all of a sudden they are 240º you may want to know why.

I have too much dough in this Camper Specal engine to not know what is going on back there.

Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:48 am

RatCamper wrote: Would I be silly to mount a large one in the clock hole, or should I just put a smaller one ...somewhere. Where on earth are you people mounting your gauges so you can see them?

No and I would love to see one installed am have been considering doing the same. My personal preference and I admit it is probably overkill, is to install a duel head unit so I can see both sides of the motor. Some like to drive with "their senses" and must be more attuned to the rhythms of thier vehicles than I. The ole Cliche' "Ignorance is Bliss"

Randy wrote: I never watch the gauges either as they "flash" when something exciting happens. OT > 230º CHT > 400º OP < 11 psi. Catches even my spousal unit's attention.

Randy, excellant point. No need to "gauge watch", but if you're heavily loaded and/or climbing a long steep grade the next Cliche' holds true "An ouce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:41 am

Must be an East Coast West Coast thing. I had gauges once too.

Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:47 am

jasonious wrote: Must be an East Coast West Coast thing. I had gauges once too.

I doubt it, I'm sure we all agree :shock: the East Coast is the "better Coast", right? :lol:

Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:40 am

ddwbeagles wrote: jasonious wrote: Must be an East Coast West Coast thing. I had gauges once too.

I doubt it, I'm sure we all agree :shock: the East Coast is the "better Coast", right? :lol:

yeah...right :roll: