Oil Temp Guage

Hey All, I have a 2002 VS with a custom 1641.. I'll spare the details. My question is if anyone has used any type of digital oil temperature guage. I never do trust my dash guage and have even considered a dipstick length thermometer... if I could find one. If anyone knows of any simple digital thermometers that I could use, let me know. Thank's -Wil

Meat thermometer from the grocery store, or buy the same thing from Snap-On, or buy a Harley-Davidson dipstick type oil thermometer. If your oil level is up to the top mark on the dipstick the meat thermometer will work fine; the Harley unit is longer.

(Message Edited 1/23/2003 1:00:46 PM)

Or you could install a VDO oil temp guage.
The sender that your engine probably already has will work.
(I'm assuming that you have the replica gauge cluster as seen in most Vintage Speedsters)
You can use the wire(s) that are already installed for the guage in the cluster. You could even add a wire with and switch to toggle between the two for comparison.
That what I did until I knew where the needle should be when the oil temp was 250 deegrees (too hot)! Now I know where the needle should be, so I remove the temporary VDO guage.

Greg B.

I've had that VDO gauge tell me lies. I bought one brand spankin new and the thing read 30 deg. off. Always test the gauge before you trust it. One other thing too, make sure you put the gauge sender in the sump if your using external oil coolers as the sender will read the temp. after the ext. coolers if it's installed where the factory one is.

J-P

I like the VDO dipstick sender - it replaces the dipstick and has two wire terminals, one for the gauge lead and one for a required ground. It has an adjustable bottom "stop" to get the depth right and can be bent to clear the fan belt and alternator stand.

I tested my Brazilian Porshe replica gauge with the dipstick sender and boiling water as a reference point using a cooking thermometer to verify 212 F. At 212 F on my gauge the needle was in the small green area about 3/16" to the left of the upper large green area.

George,

Where did you get this VDO dipstick sender?

Thx
Brian

Brian, I really don't remember, but if you log onto the VDO web site there will be a list of distributors that handle their products and can order one for you.