Thread: Coolant Temp and Low alarm

Originally Posted by Lemo

Hi all,

Doing some research into temp and low coolant alarms.
Didn't want to over spend on a Madman EMS as I don't need all that these offer, just want low coolant and temp.

So was looking at this Haydn Coolant Alarms - Low Coolant/TM-2 Combination Alarm - (Powered by CubeCart) combined unit. Around $330 delivered from UK

Any other offerings from Aust??

Cheers Lemo

BobS. A Coolant Low Alarm Made in QLD. called Engine Saver is around $120 Mailed to you .Easy to fit.
Considering a unit should have been fitted as standard equipment.
Regards BobS

Originally Posted by Bwanapeter

I have a Disco 3 diesel and I fitted an Engine Watchdog TM4 with one sensor for each bank of the engine. I paid A$189. The single sensor version is about A$149 I think. It works fine.

But that does not tell you if you have lost coolant - you have to wait until the engine starts cooking before you get a clue that coolant has been lost but supposedly the standard D3 systems should tell you this as well as overtemp in the engine - so not sure of the benefit in a D3.

Hi there. I have got both a low level sensor and a temp sensor fitted to my 300TDI Defender. The low level sensor is one from Redarc which works very well. I also fitted an Engine Guard EG01. They saved my engine when the heater core popped going up a steep hill last summer. The engine guard went off a second after the low coolant alarm. I have bought another couple of these units and will be fitting them to the Disco and Range Rover when I get them back on the road. I think that you just need the engine guard as it responded to the coolant loss so quickly. Worth every cent.

Cheers Bill

Originally Posted by markdaw130

New to site how do I find Dave’s shop interested in Tran/eng temp. Cheers mark

He only does the low coolant alarm.

If you look back through this thread there's several options linked

Watchdog is one Aussie made unit that will do this

ENGINE WATCHDOG Audible Engine Overheating Alarm, Gauge & Sensor

Cheers Lemo

Originally Posted by Lemo

He only does the low coolant alarm.

If you look back through this thread there's several options linked

Watchdog is one Aussie made unit that will do this

ENGINE WATCHDOG Audible Engine Overheating Alarm, Gauge & Sensor

Cheers Lemo

Those are very interesting units. Thanks for the link. Might start saving for a TM1, I think.

Google Murphy Switchgages. These are top shelf items used on heavy haulage and highway trucks, mining machinery, and marine installations. They supply a float operated low coolant alarm that is almost standard equipment on KW, Western Star, Mack, etc. Also gauges with a switching function to operate an alarm. oil pressure gauges with an isolate button for start up.

Big range of items and all are top quality.

Edit - Here is a link to their web site. Mechanical Gauges (Temperature) | FW Murphy Production Controls.
You can view their entire catalogue there.

Heavy truck wreckers would be a good source.

Originally Posted by billsdefender1996

..... They saved my engine when the heater core popped going up a steep hill last summer. The engine guard went off a second after the low coolant alarm. .....

Do you have a coolant temperature gauge tho?
That is, tells you how how the coolant is running at any given moment.
Or do you rely on the dash coolant gauge?

I personally prefer watching the coolant gauge as it rises to forewarn of an impending hose popping temperature.
Hoses and cores don't just pop without undue stress inflicted on them, unless they're old or visibly impacted.

So I'm thinking in your situation(if you didn't have a coolant gauge that shows you temperature in real time) that as you worked the motor going up the steep hill, as it rises to above .. <insert preferred temperature here!> .. that it's best to back off and de stress the cooling system before something breaks.

I just did the run to Ballarat again today, going up the Pentland Hills section of the freeway.
A/C on, about 30-ish ambient .. maybe a bit more .. and now without my grille mounted(D1), I could get up only a few seconds from the peak of the ascent without hitting the 700°C EGT limit.
Every other time I'd driven this section, EGT peaks about half way up, forcing me to back off, then speed drops and dropping out of 4th lockup(auto) creating a worse situation in requiring more revs now to make the final section of the rise .. and then coolant surges to astronomical heights too!

I know that the 300 Tdi gets stressed a bit under load(ie. up this hill) .. keep a regular check on temps(coolant and EGT mainly).
I used to get up to 100°C on the coolant temp up this Pentland Hill with A/C on(with grille) .. and today I got a much more respectable 88°C (also with 4 diffs in the back and brother annoying me in the passengers seat ) with the grille removed.

This device fits into my OBD2 port and it gives me an accurate coolant temp (ECT) as well as other readings for $70

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