[T3] Gauges

[Robert Rogers]

I have found that one of the most useful gauges is a Voltmeter.  It tells you a lot about the performance of the electrical system and it is easy to install. Install a good one (VDO).  


-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim Adney <jadney at vwtype3.org>
>Sent: Mar 18, 2011 10:01 AM
>To: type3 at vwtype3.org
>Subject: Re: [T3] Gauges
>
>On 17 Mar 2011 at 20:19, Keith Park wrote:
>
>> Yea, but when your pushing hard, like towing a boat or following Jim Adney
>> across a desert you really do need to know whats going on and when to back
>> off...
>> 
>> ;-)
>
>Still, there's a lot to be said for just trusting good parts, good 
>engineering, and good assembly technique. I once added an ammeter and 
>an oil pressure gauge to my '68. The ammeter always read so close to 
>zero that it was disappointing to realize that that was exactly what 
>it was supposed to do, and the cheap oil pressure gauge eventually 
>filled my battery compartment with oil when the line leaked. Up to 
>then, it just showed that the oil pressure was always a little lower 
>than anyone told you it should be. In spite of that, the engine ran 
>more than 100 kmiles, until I removed it before selling the rusted 
>out car.
>
>Temp gauges might be more useful, but they are hard to install and 
>hard to interpret, but getting to know how your engine feels, 
>responds, and sounds are even more useful.
>
>Frankly, the gauge I find most useful is my gas gauge. I record EVERY 
>fillup and calculate the mileage on each one. Watching your gas 
>mileage trends will tell you a lot, but you have to be religious 
>about it. Nevertheless, my wife now records each fillup, too, and I 
>check the results occasionally to see if anything appears to be out 
>of sorts.
>
>Finally, if Keith has trouble following me, we should all keep in 
>mind that there's very little special about my engine and I have no 
>aftermarket instruments. I DO have full flow oil filters, ported 
>heads, shimmed valve springs, and counterweighted cranks. I don't 
>think any of those things have any significant effect on head temp or 
>oil pressure, but they do affect long term wear.
>
>The fact that my engines haven't died on me yet (knock on wood) may 
>just be due to luck, but I suspect it has more to do with sticking 
>with mostly stock parts. I don't have VW's resources to invest in the 
>R&D that is necessary to assure that upgrades in preformance do not 
>result in downgrades in reliability.
>
>I agree with Dave, that extra instruments are probably interesting 
>and they are something you can install if you WANT them, but they 
>will never make up for bad parts, or poor engineering or assembly.
>
>On my later cars I've reduced the compression ratio, to keep up 
>(down?) with the declining quality of gas. I always buy the cheapest 
>grade and it's never been a problem, except for the rare cases where 
>I got a little water in with it. The water makes the engine stumble, 
>but it doesn't hurt it.
>
>My '68 had terrible pinging problems, but at that time I had no idea 
>what that was. It was standard "knock" and only happened at WOT and 
>low rpm. To my knowledge, it never damaged anything, but I always 
>tried to avoid making it happen.  
>
>-- 
>*******************************
>Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
>Madison, Wisconsin, USA
>*******************************
>
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