Oil temps

I finally got around to trying out my Mainley dipstick with temperature gauge. Drove around yesterday and could only get the dash gauge up to about 20% into the green zone. At that point, the Mainley dipstick was showing 190F. The hottest I

i would invest in an oil pressure gauge and temp gauge mounted under dash, the oil temp can very greatly in a short distance. dont trust that gauge it came with.

Oil: Normal 180-220 degrees, Warm 220-240, Hot 240+

Heads (CHT): Normal 325-375, Warm 375-400, Hot 400+

From posts here and on The Samba.

The Cylinder Head Gauge, sensor fitted on #3 Spark Plug is in many ways more useful than an Oil Temperature Gauge. The high oil temperature shows you've had the problem long enough to over-heat the oil. The CHT Gauge reacts very quickly to temperature changes. Both gauges are better than one.

Regards, Mike.

All - Thanks for the feedback, especially the list of normal-high temperature ranges. I plan to keep the Mainley dipstick gauge in my car all through summer and calibrate my dash gauge at different points in the green zone by referencing to temperature readings off the dipstick.

Felix, you can send your combi gauge and sender to North Hollywood or Palo Alto and get it back with actual calibrated numbers on the temp gauge if you want. Lots of guys on Spyderclub have.

My oil gauge isn't calibrated, but runs in the lower third unless 90 plus outside. I have a remote 96 plate with oil thermostat and fan thermostat.

I do have an Autometer CHT gauge. Mine only reads over 300 if I am in traffic for a long time idling. Usually reads 260-280 cruising or beating on it, doesn't seem to matter.

Right you are on the CHT gauge. Mine saved my engine going over the Tehapachi pass heading home after Morro Bay. Stupidly, and for the second time in 3 years, I found a piece of paper towel in my fan. The CHT gauge told me almost instantly before the heads got hot to check that fan even before the oil temp got to 200 degrees from it's usual 180-185. (I have both oil and CHT gauges now). My cht reads exactly as Danny posted above.)

Who ever the hell is doing this to me had better stop or I'll open a can of whup ass on'em! I'm kidding about this but NOT about the value of a CHT gauge. Simple to install too--just a ring that goes under the spark plug and wired to the gauge at the dash.

I learned the value of a CHT gauge owning and flying two airplanes.

OK stupid question... Does VDO have vintage looking CHT & Oil temp gauges. Something that matches the look of the 356 gauges.

I believe this has been discussed before, but not all CHT gauges adjust for ambient temperatures. That means when it's hot or cold out the gauge will read differently. VDO does not compensate for ambient temps.
Here's what I'm using: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/CHT_gauges.php

Terry, I just received my MICRO 1000 CHT gauge last week. I've talked to Henry about having North Hollywood redo the front of this gauge at the same time they do my three center gauges.
Ron

Felix! Add this to your knowlege base:

"I finally got around to trying out my Mainley dipstick with temperature gauge. Drove around yesterday and could only get the dash gauge up to about 20% into the green zone. At that point, the Mainley dipstick was showing 190F. The hottest I

All - Thanks for the feedback. Gordon - Some great suggestions in your post; thanks a bunch. I plan to do exactly as you suggest the next time we get a really hot summer day here.