Radiator cap with gauge. What R your opinions
August 29th, 2011, 05:01 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Big Lake,MN..Spent most of my life in Boston
Posts: 714
Radiator cap with gauge. What R your opinions
I have seen radiator caps with temperture gauge in it. Has anyone tried them and if so are they worth getting
August 29th, 2011, 05:06 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 215
Just my opinion, I had one and thought it was a cheaply made piece of junk.
I also had a voltmeter that was the positive terminal of the battery. Kind of cool but like the temperature cap, what good is it really if you can't see it while you are driving. JMO
I also had a voltmeter that was the positive terminal of the battery. Kind of cool but like the temperature cap, what good is it really if you can't see it while you are driving. JMO
August 29th, 2011, 07:31 PM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,452
Have to agree. I spent $22 on the damn thin and it's not worth it. It's made by ThermoCap, and while it looks nice at a show if my hood is open, it's always at least 20 degrees colder than the actual coolant temp, as the little needle doesn't sit directly in the coolant.
August 30th, 2011, 03:50 AM
#4
'87 Delta 88 Royale
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Margate, England
Posts: 2,513
In the '30s Morris motors in England had an indicator on the radiator cap, most cars had exposed radiators then. It wasn't much use as it couldn't be seen from the driving seat, in those days steam coming from the radiator was the best indicator of overheating, not unusual for the time if the car had been climbing a steep hill or had been driven hard.
Not only was it practically useless, it cost the company a lot of money fighting a patent lawsuit with another manufacturer who claimed to have invented it first.
Roger.
Not only was it practically useless, it cost the company a lot of money fighting a patent lawsuit with another manufacturer who claimed to have invented it first.
Roger.
August 30th, 2011, 05:19 AM
#5
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Big Lake,MN..Spent most of my life in Boston
Posts: 714
Not being able to read it is the obvious drawback. I just thought it would be another line of defence before the idiot light comes on. I have replaced the temp sending unit and know the idiot light is functional and I am very confident about all aspects of my cooling system. Glad to save 20 bucks. Thanks for the opinions
August 31st, 2011, 03:17 AM
#7
'87 Delta 88 Royale
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Margate, England
Posts: 2,513
If you are concerned about the cooling system why not fit a quality aftermarket gauge & sender. One of my few gripes about American cars is a lot of them don't come a temperature gauge from the factory, I regard the idiot lights as something that lights up to tell you your engine has just been cooked. A gauge will give you some warning that all is not well.
Roger.
Roger.
August 31st, 2011, 05:31 AM
#8
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Big Lake,MN..Spent most of my life in Boston
Posts: 714
I have been thinking of putting a gauge in the car. I have been searching for a small design that I can easily install somewhere in the dash. My dash has a small removable panel that was designed to hold a clock in it. If I can get an LED type gauge and make it look professional I will do it.
August 31st, 2011, 08:59 AM
#10
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,371
August 31st, 2011, 05:43 PM
#11
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Big Lake,MN..Spent most of my life in Boston
Posts: 714
Great detail on those motormeters. I have seen others and the care they put into them was pure art. If you find one in a junk yard or an old farm they bring in a pretty penny.
Roger if I find something I will give you a shout. There is a shop near me that will mount any type of gauge in a small enclosure for dash boards. Most of his clients take out the old original dash and interior lighting and modernize it with LED...in other words pimp out the car. NOT my style but he may have the skills to do what I want.
Roger if I find something I will give you a shout. There is a shop near me that will mount any type of gauge in a small enclosure for dash boards. Most of his clients take out the old original dash and interior lighting and modernize it with LED...in other words pimp out the car. NOT my style but he may have the skills to do what I want.
September 1st, 2011, 02:43 AM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Too close to Toronto!!
Posts: 4,087
Last edited by Yellowstatue; September 2nd, 2011 at 03:13 AM. Reason: Shpelink!
September 2nd, 2011, 06:56 PM
#15
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Big Lake,MN..Spent most of my life in Boston
Posts: 714
I am searching for a small water temp guage that I can make fit ( and look like it belongs) in the clock cut out on my dash. I have found so many companies out there...just a matter of time before I find one that I like. But again if I find a clock
for a 64 88 I might just install it instead. Funny thing, when we didn't have gauges
we didn't think much about them. After driving cars that tell you everything from water temp to a low tire you get a bit spoiled.
QUICK NOTE: I laugh everytime I start my car and the idiot light reads "COLD" !!
for a 64 88 I might just install it instead. Funny thing, when we didn't have gauges
we didn't think much about them. After driving cars that tell you everything from water temp to a low tire you get a bit spoiled.
QUICK NOTE: I laugh everytime I start my car and the idiot light reads "COLD" !!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Oldssupreme
Parts Wanted
15
February 20th, 2013 09:59 AM
