Thread: Enginesaver low coolant alarm

I followed the link and email and the reply from Jan quoted below, he is based in Sydney and quick communicator. This is the reply I got on 5/4/06 it may have changed in that time.

"Cost for the DIY unit is $242.10."

ouch if you just want a alarm the other one is cheaper better option

Originally Posted by one_iota

Please help me as I am confused....two units have been mentioned: one is purely a low level alarm (LLA) and the other is a more comprehensive unit that includes a LLA.

The first offers a discount to AULRO and costs $153.00 and the other is a sponsor and I don't know how much

I hope this is what you need to know.

The engine saver is a sensing probe in the top radiator hose and monitors the coolant present in that hose. it alarms when dry.
The other is a level switch in the coolant tank and only alarms when the tank is low.
One could argue if the tank is low the engine block and radiator should still have coolant present and you can shut down in time.
How could you have a full coolant tank and no coolant in the hose? I don't believe you can. So the argument comes down to the reliability of the level switch or the coolant probe. Level switches are not very reliable for a number of reasons dependent on their design and mode of operation. The engine saver as I understand it uses a self cleaning probe design and supposedly is very reliable. "You pays your money and takes your choice". Both will work.

Trev.

I once had a EA Falcon which had a low level warning system fitted.

Was basically a float in the overflow/ recovery tank, which kepted the two contacts apart whilst the tank was full, if you started to lose fluid, the level dropped and the contacts came into contact and activated a warning light whilst you still had fluid.

Had to replace it once and from memory was only a few dollars, but was a very effective little thing to have as it gave sufficient warning before fluids got to the critical stage. As happened when I blew a head gasket.

Cost to repair? One head gasket, not a gasket and a head or main bearings.

So any part that is going to save you major expense has to be worth it

I have fitted the ems to my car and a couple of months later while going to Goulburn the low level alarm went off,the head gasket had failed.

I went for this alarm because of the different alarm options like the over temp alarm you can still overheat a motor with plenty of coolant in the system,I have replaced water pumps on earth moving machines where the impeller has started to slip on the shaft this is why some of them have low coolant,coolant flow and over temp to cover all the bases.

the exact reason i went for the ems, multiple options and sensors...

I have one question about the EMS. How come the operating temp of the unit is only to 40°C ? If you have placed a thermometer in a car that is left in the sun in summer, it does exceed this by a large margin. How does this affect the stability of the electrical componants?

This generated a fair amount of discussion

I looked at the the "ems" and it seems well designed. More real estate on the dash would need to be found and wiring it up is more involved. However you do get all the extra alarms.

It seems overheating a tdi can be serious, so a low coolant alarm would be the most desirable "add on" sensor/alarm.

An advantage with the "engine saver" is simple installation ( no drilling holes in the header tank or radiator top tank). You could also transfer it to another vehicle quite easily with no sign it had ever been on the old vehicle.