I'm looking at getting a water temp gauge for my car to monitor well the coolant temps. I contacted alto and the said that I would have to drill into my coolant tank?! I really do not want to start drilling hold in something that hold fluids I don’t see it ending well over time. while searching around online I stumbled upon this [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/28-mm-water-sender-attachment-1.aspx anyone have any experience with this or know if it would work or be accurate? it seems like a good idea and $15 is a lot better than having someone tap a hole.

 

It may work but have you actually looked at the hose lengths from the thermostat housing to the radiator. Very twisty and curvy. Only maybe one or two spots to put something like that in and then you will have to make a bracket to hold it up out of the way so that it does now interfere with the transmission shift mechanisms. And with that item you will still need a temp gauge and sender and a way to mount it. You are still looking at a $100 or more for that stuff.

And it would only be as accurate as the sensor that measures the water. And if you put it in the wrong hose it will also be rather inaccurate.

Also of note is that the information is on the OBDII so you could just use a scanguage or other equipment that will read the OBDII in for and get a lot more info that just water temp.

And of note to you is that the MINI cooling system is not like the standard old fashioned chevy, ford etc cooling system. here is a picture of the thermostat housing, it is the heart like item in the lower right corner of the picture

 

Maybe a OBD II gauge is the option. No tapping. Jus plug it in and get all kinds of data including temp.

http://www.scangauge.com/

 

I've been struggling with this topic as well. Looking at the flexibility of the Scanguage, I am leaning to this solution. I like being able to have multiple items in view in one place.

Getting a ODB II reading single gauge when you can have multiple points to be concerned about feels to be not enough.

I wish there was a more elegant solution but the resourcefulness is starting to win.

 

I also recommend the scangauge. It does so much for the price, and I actually use it for corrected MPH too.

 

Tanks guys! I do have the accessport so I could use that but the only solution I can seem to find as mounting it is velcro it to the dashboard I like the look of the gauge because it's more of a "factory look" I wish someone would have a more permanent of secure mount for the accesport. I was looking at flex pods but I just don't think it would stay in place during an autocross? I don't want to have to take it on and off. Either way it looks like ill probably steer away from the water temp gauge

 

Another option for tapping off the OBDII...more expensive than a Scangauge but much more versatile and looks better, IMHO. I have two of these in CravenSpeed pods with customized silver faces that match the rest of the gauges:

http://www.aeroforcetech.com/products_interceptor.html

Here are mine:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3353313

 

Oh that is sexy...

 

I used the Cravenspeed hotlink adapter.

http://www.cravenspeed.com/gauge-sender-adapters/

It replaces a coupling in the lower radiator hose and has a place for the transmission cooling line on automatic transmission cars.

Dave

 

I missed that when I was searching around looks nice and simple, especially the oil temp I may do that over coolant but I think the coolant may me more useful not sure, that one from craven looks like a more expensive version of the one from glow shift that is only $15

 

Plus 1 for Cravenspeed.

http://www.mini4fun.info/09_MCa_Gaug...6_Photos..html

 

Has anyone else used these gauges