Another engine monitor thread

The 300TDi is an extremely robust engine that will last for many many 100,000km- simple, easy to maintain, and ultra reliable in my experience.
I think that as the radiator ages the cooling system becomes a little marginal under very high loads - it’s a lack of maintenance issue by the owners normally.
If you are doing a transplant go for a larger intercooler or larger radiator - both if you can afford it.
Do not use aftermarket water pumps - use OE, GMB or AIRTEX.
I like AIRTEX. The AIRTEX is an OE water pump manufacturer and the impeller is not just a piece of pressed/folded steel but has a properly moulded/shaped impeller.
I just fitted one into my P38 and got rid of the Britparts one( cheap pressed impeller). The engine must be getting higher water flows as I have noticed a 5 degree drop in the water temp at idle in the traffic. My water temp guage is very accurate BTW.It must be the impeller design as nothing else was changed.
I wouldn’t believe unless I have seen it firsthand.
Slight thread drift - , before you fit the engine – mod the vacuum pump to seal against oil leaks – search this forum.

Vlad,
You can DIY the temp monitoring for low cost -much lower than TM2 etc.
Check out the following AutoSpeed - $25 Temperature Controller and Display!

Or you can program your own microcontroller to monitor two temps and switch fans intercooler sprays etc with this AutoSpeed - eLabtronics EZ System, Part 1

Design for cheap low coolant alarm is also on this forum - using a simple float switch in the coolant bottle. I like this idea as I get some false alarms for some reason with the commercial one I purchased.

You should be able to do low coolant and head temp monitoring all for under $100.

Another you may be interested is welltempered, he's on the forum, and lives locally. You could ring him to have a chat about his system. Bob

WellTempered temperature monitor - Home


www.welltempered.info/‎

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My concern with that is that it measures temperature ay a bolt on the engine (or t case or whatever), and different parts of an engine can register very different values...

Looks cool otherwise

[QUOTE=VladTepes;2010763]My concern with that is that it measures temperature ay a bolt on the engine (or t case or whatever), and different parts of an engine can register very different values...

Looks cool otherwise

I know what you mean, but it is not rocket science, we don't need exact measurements, we just need to know if the temp. is within limits. This can be done with this system, you set the limits. Bob

I've had a Watchdog TM2 for a few years, and the sensor is bolted to the back of the RH cylinder head, which is one of the hotter parts of the engine. I'm used to the way it behaves now, and it's a lot quicker and more accurate than the original gauge. I usually look at it before the other temperature gauges now.

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Originally Posted by VladTepes

My concern with that is that it measures temperature ay a bolt on the engine (or t case or whatever), and different parts of an engine can register very different values...

Looks cool otherwise

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Where else would you measure it from? I guess directly into the oil or coolant, but I don't think it matters, so long as you know the normal limits of wherever you decide to attach it. FWIW, mine is attached to the thermostat housing. IIRC, MR Auto has a little ad near the counter for the Well Tempered unit.

I was told , if you have a diagnostic tool, you can see the temp. the ECU is reading from the water temp sensor on the outlet housing. By putting the watchdog/TM2/ welltempered monitor probe on the housing bolt, adjacent to the engine temp. sensor, by comparing the ECU temp to the device temp., you have a good idea of the difference between the two. Perhaps someone with a diagnostic device could confirm this. What I like about W.T. is you can moniter up to 5 positions, diffs, T/C G/B, no doubt the other brands can do that too. Something I've been thinking about is monitering the engine bay, where the 2nd battery goes, on the firewall passenger side, to see just how hot it gets there, before finally deciding where I will put my 2nd battery. Bob [edit] sorry, just realised it is a 300tdi, but those devices would still work for you.