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MG TD TF 1500 - Oil temperature gauge

I'm thinking of adding an oil temperature gauge to my 51 TD. I know, not period - but as I'm rebuilding the engine because it overheated, I'm thinking it might be a nice thing to have to warn of future heating issues! I looked through threads and found quite a few people have done some nice ones, adding a hole in the sump. My question is - are new repro oil temp gauges available to match the standard look of the oil pressure gauges? Or is there a source for original ones anywhere outside of feebay?
Thanks.
Geoffrey M Baker

Mine. I stuffed it up under the dash and don't look at it.

MAndrus

If what you're saying Mandrus is that you would be willing to sell yours, can you supply a pic?
Geoffrey M Baker

Ahhhhmmmm....

My next project might be a basket case TD (already in negotiations). I'm hoping to do a race style car (open hood sides, supercharger, bike fenders, turned alum dash, SS screen grill, etc. An oil temp. will look just fine there.

In my current TD, it was mounted at my left knee cap.

I've included a pic. I can't tell you how old this is, but it sure looks period.

......

MAndrus

Looks like the standard aftermarket oil temp meter. But sounds like you don't want to sell it. If you do want to do so, email me at geoffreybaker@cox.net...
Geoffrey M Baker

It seems to me that an ordinary water temperature gauge might be a faster and thus more reliable indicator of overheating than a sensor in the sump. The water temperature gauge measures the temperature of water just as it emerges from the block. The oil in the sump is a reservoir that is not really in direct contact with the block, and flows much more slowly, so it's probably slower to respond to changes in temperature of the block and its components.
S Maas

SMaas, there's a problem with that. If the water passages in the block are severely blocked, your water temperature reading may appear relatively normal when taken at the radiator (TD sensor) or the thermostat (TF sensor). The engine may be overheating, but if the water can't move because of the blockage, the water temperature outside of the block may remain much lower, while the internal engine water temp is rising.

Which is what happened to my TD and exactly why I'm thinking another form of temperature measurement is a good idea. Now, I could probably arrange to drill and mount a fitting onto the block for the water temperature sensor (one of the frost plugs, maybe?) but I haven't seen anyone else do that. However, the oil temp meter was a common aftermarket addon and there are plenty of threads on how to do that.
That's what I'm thinking, anyway. Either moving the water temperature sensor directly to the block or finding an alternative temperature sensor - either oil temp or even a head temp gauge (measuring temperature of the metal, rather than the liquids...) ... any one of these should give a more accurate view of what's going on inside the engine itself.
Geoffrey M Baker

We have gone off topic a bit, but what about having a bulb inserted through the rear plate on the head - I know this would be the cooler water coming directly out of the radiator, but at the least, the bulb would be in the water - it is not in a good position on the TDs and sits too high in the top tank.

That oil gauge is a proper matching gauge for the standard instrument set - nice!
DLD

I've now had the car out 3 times since this thread started and I've looked at the oil temp gauge after running at least 15-20 mins.

Each time, the oil gauge was showing 10* to 12*C cooler than the water temp gauge. Water at 85, oil at 72... water at 82, oil at 70..

I don't have an oil cooler.

The bulb is at the side of the sump (pictured above)

....
MAndrus

This thread was discussed between 20/07/2015 and 27/07/2015

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