oil temp guage, Pointless or what?

john robert bould · Nov 27, 2011

A friend asked me if he was to fit an oil temp gauge on his commando, where would it go, and what range should he get . ie max .. would 100c max be suitable...
and of interest to myself what would the oil temp leaving the sump be after a full warm-up...i know there will be vairables ! summer/winter and useage.....race track temp etc.

swooshdave · Nov 27, 2011

If he lives on that island off the coast of France with you theres not much point.

JimC · Nov 27, 2011

Oil temperatures in the tank can run over 100°C. The oil in the head is higher yet.

john robert bould · Nov 27, 2011

swooshdave said:
If he lives on that island off the coast of France with you theres not much point.

Yep! where your beloved Norton was born :lol:

ILLF8ED · Nov 27, 2011

swooshdave said:
If he lives on that island off the coast of France with you theres not much point.

David,

You're avatar is looking better all the time. Riding position is too aggresive for me, but looks great.

Fullauto · Nov 28, 2011

A hell of a lot less pointless than an oil pressure guage, which most prefer.

Hobot · Nov 28, 2011

Oil temp is actually more informative and interesting to watch than useless oil pressure misinforming of what's actually fed to what matters in rod big ends. I like needle gauges galore so encourage them even if mostly just for show.

My 1st Ms Peel had oil temp bung placed 1" off tank bottom projecting off front of tank behind the down tube. Oil temps respond to throttle fuel burn in about 30 sec. It took WOT held beyond redline for many miles in lower gears embrassing sports bikes to see temps get to 195'F and then 3 min or less at 90 mph relaxed cruise back to drop to normal 165' F in bottom of tank to feed pump. Next time I will monitor Peel's exiting oil temp for better idea of heat building up. I've got her spare un-needed temperature tapped oil tank I don't know what to do with now.

BrianK · Nov 28, 2011

Yeah, oil pressure gauges are useless! If your pressure drops, your engine seizes, locks the rear wheel, and pitches you over the handlebars, your pressure's too low. Until then, you're fine bucko!

But seriously folks. I run one, and having done so, wouldn't be without it.

Hobot · Nov 28, 2011

Hehe realistically oil gauge is just for fun as either she's making all the pressure she can or it suddenly don't because something else let go that caused the oil to leak out and or pump to stop. It could warn of too little oil in tank from a leak of course but usually the leak alerts you first or so close to seeing the gauge drop its a toss up which is more helpful not to ruin the ride. But shoot why choose, install temp and pressure for best pleasure gazing at the life force indicators. There are split dial gauges that take up the same space. Automotive temperature sendors are rather a big plug thing to deal with though.

JimC · Nov 28, 2011

Actually, an oil pressure gauge on the Norton will give you an indication that you oil is hot. When the oil is less than hot my pressure gauge shows about 20 psi at idle. When the oil is freeway running hot the pressure at idle drops to less than 5 psi. If you are talking about preventing catastrophic failure from loss of oil pressure an idiot light would be preferable. Why not have both?

pete.v · Nov 28, 2011

BrianK said:
Yeah, oil pressure gauges are useless! If your pressure drops, your engine seizes, locks the rear wheel, and pitches you over the handlebars, your pressure's too low. Until then, you're fine bucko!

But seriously folks. I run one, and having done so, wouldn't be without it.

I agree. I can generally tell the temp by the how much pressure I have. Whether hot or cold, I would rather know that it is flowing then knowing exactly how hot it wasn't. I sleep better knowin that it's fllowin.
I do have a cooler and a Jagg bypass but really haven't had the need to install it. I think the main thing to be cautious of is long runs at highway speeds with a big tail wind.

Hobot · Nov 28, 2011

Keep expanding on this as just backs my opinion all the gauges are just for fun on our old beasts. I've had enough engine break downs on all sorts of things to know ain't no way a human can act fast enough in a case it would even matter so realistically logically one should install an oil pressure kill switch like my lawn mower has and then a light to tell ya when the ignition was cutting out, in case ya missed it. So if one starts up one day and only see's 5 lb cold and zero warm, what would you do?

If you want real engine monitoring to entertain and educate install CHT and EGT then see what the oil pressure temps mean. It may also alter ones opinion on need of oil cooler or worry to sit in still summer air in still traffic reving enough to keep charger voltage and oil pressure up.

marinecommando · Nov 28, 2011

After reading about oil temp and engine condition I'll throw my hat in the ring........
After racing 2stroke v6 outboards for many years, the best accessory for monitoring engine condition and for tuneing purposes was a EGT pyrometer . This enabled us to dial the jetting in right to the maximum, just before meltdown. It also gave very good indication as too the cooling and lubrication of the engine, much better than water temperature or pressure. The fit would be quite easy, having the probes in the exhaust just out side the head. It would only need a captive nut welded to the pipe and drilled then insert the probes via a rifled bolt. No electrical connections needed just a gauge showing left and right hand temps. Livorski do a 35mm one..
Thinking about it, I know what I'll be doing over the winter."......

Matt Spencer · Nov 28, 2011

But its more closely related to a Spitfire , and they have Oil Temp. Guages . :mrgreen:

Now for something completely . . . as per Pic. Below , Steves . Dual Function Guage .Theres a Anceint Smiths ,
still available .Original fittment to Mk 1 Cortina and LOTUS Raceing Cars . read on . Non Electrical , tho lighted
per baynet plug in ' dash ' lamp if regd.
Capilary action TEMP & Oil Pressure , on the same 2 in dia. instruent . for the classic look .Available new still ,

Long bendy wirey thing has ' bulb ' that screws in a std. thread tank fitting , if brazed in .Might fit the drain plug
if its 5/8 odd .Oil pressure is copper tube of sim. std screw fitting.For those of us with Magnetos & no Elec syatem .

Hobot · Nov 28, 2011

Outboards were my first speed machines growing up. Real screaming memies with thrumpet exhausts and tiny props flying over rough water for thrills and spills.

Here's a cheap but effective brand of gauges I fitted to Peel. The supplied needle probes have a hose clamp that's too big for our pipes but could be adapted as described above

http://www.westach.com/

oil temp guage, Pointless or what?

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