temp gauge
 

Awhile back I replaced the temp gauge and sending unit in my 1981 911SC with one that has numbers. But the gauge I got from Pelican starts at 120 degrees and then the next number is 180 degrees. When my car is fully warmed up the needle moves just a little past 120. Does my car run particularly cool or is this gauge the wrong one for my car?I have see somewhere gauges that start at 50 degrees. What year are such gauges from and where could I get one?

don:mad:

I have been down this path before a few times, there are two different gauges and two corresponding senders (at least), you need to match the sender with the gauge. I finally gave up and got a matching pair sold as a pair. I am sure if I put some effort into it and thought about it, I could have ifgured it out, but I was lazy and had other more pressing things to do.

Jim

I bought a matching pair from Pelican.....!!!!!!

no idea then, sorry

I did this (English numbers [F] oil temp.) on my 1989 3.2 and needed to get a set. An interesting thing happened....when I got the set (not from Pelican) I didn't check the thread on the sender....someone had rethreaded it to a different pitch. So please check your parts.

good luck.

I bet your engine is just running cool right now. My engine never gets above about 150 degrees in the winter. Take it to the track this summer and you'll find out if it's working.

-Andy

Don,
Since you bought both the new gauge and the correct respective sender there is something else potentially wrong here. I experienced the same problem you are describing - my gauge was defective at the time I purchased. To verify this I would recommend driving your car to properly allow it to warm up and then leave the engine running at idle. Gain access to an IR temperature gun and 'shoot' the oil sender (you will find considerable amount of varying oil temperatures on your engine so it is important that you measure the sender temp) and comparing this value to the temperature shown on your newly installed gauge. My weapon of choice is a multimeter from Sears that has a built in InfraRed temperature gauge - this has worked out extremely well for me. I hope that this helps.

Thanks. What is the correct operating temp for my engine?

don hopkins
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1981 911 SC w/Weber 40 IDAs