... the water temperature gauge on cars fitted with the Chrono Pack? The gauge's minimum calibration is 30 degrees F (-1 C)!

Why ever would I need to know the coolant is at 30 degrees? Why should I care if it's below, say, 120 (49 C)? Just give me a scale that goes from 120F to 250F and I'll be happy.

Not complaining about the rest of the pack though. The oil pressure and temp instruments are nice as is the column-mounted analog speedometer.

In a semi-related issue, I'd like to know the reason for the Chrono Pack's disappearance from the R56.

Oh well, rantette over. Now you may all go back to your business.

 

A quick question. I have not seen the chrono pack at night from the point of view of the driver. Is it overly bright in your opinion? Does it dominate the dash or blend in well?

 

I would think it would be helpful to know if coolant is at or near freezing. Frozen coolant can do some pretty good damage to an engine. Still, it does seem like an extreme range.

 

Every temp guage on every car I have ever owned starts at around 20º. Personally, I like to know when the car is beginning to heat up, no sense turning on the interior heater if the engine isn't warmed up enough. In the days of the manual choke, watching the guage would let you know when to begin to let off on the choke. Just a design that continues.

As far as the R56, a LOT of things have disappeared.

It's great, we love it. Works just right.

 

... the level of illumination seems just about right. For the level I keep the panel dimmer at, that is. I've got my digicam with me so I'll snap a couple of pictures tonight and post 'em in this thread.

 

... system with freezes at a temperature so far below 30F it's laughable. And truth be told, if somebody's coolant is close to freezing at 30 degrees, they're running mostly water. In which case freezing of the cooling system will likely turn out to be the least of their mechanical underhood concerns.

 

I love it i think that make it just right.

 

Thanks 2953 and all, you are kind to a thread semi-highjacker. I thought of another question for those with the Cockpit Chrono Package. Since the speedometer and the tachometer are both mounted on the steering column behind the steering wheel, do you find they are hard to read through the steering wheel, and do you get used to it after awhile?

 

Gromit, $20 half the readers do not know what a choke is! The only time you need to worry about water freezing in a block is with "open" cooling system in marine applications. It should never be an issue in auto applications.

 

Hey turniptruck, when choosing a car, I had a chance to drive both a chrono pack and standard car at night. I have to say the chrono packs illumination level was much less imposing that the center speedo's was. So much so that at first, I thought what would become my car (with the chrono pack) did not come equipped with the interior "mood" lighting (which it does).

Re: the visibility of the guages through the steering wheel, I found it a bit of an issue at first, but have definitely gotten used to it. Though I chose my car based on color, sport package and LSD, I have been happy with the Chrono pack.

Now I have a REAL newbie question: One of the guages I have with the Chrono pack is oil pressure. Why do I care about this?

 

Because lack of oil pressure means the smoldering remains of a seized engine. With the guage, you can detect if the oil pressure is getting too low, and something needs to be taken care of under the bonnet.

Low OP means the engine isn't getting lubricated properly. Could be a failing oil pump, or low oil level in the sump. Even a blocked oil passage somewhere.

Looking at the guage now and then is a small price to pay compaired to a new engine.

 

I hear THAT! I love the old ways of my MG.

 

... I learned to drive on was the choke. More specifically the d@#ned choke cable that was always pulling loose when the temperature dropped (albeit a relative concept since I'm talking about Southern California).

Oh that and the wire wheels with spokes that were always loosening at the rim or breaking.

 

"Because lack of oil pressure means the smoldering remains of a seized engine."

Thanks! I will definitely heed that advice. I was also wondering if there was any performance information conveyed through this gauge. I have always been told not to really push the engine until the oil is warmed up for example. Anything else to know about pressure?

 

Warm oil is always a good idea, so it flows freely and evenly.

You will note that your OP will rise and fall with engine revs. This is normal. If you are accellerating, and the OP isn't rising, you have a problem.

 

Also, don't be surprised if the oil pressure is relatively high when you first start the engine, especially if it's cold outside. It's just due to the oil being "thick" and viscous and causing the pump's discharge head to be higher. It'll come back to normal as the engine heats up.

As for the speedo and tach on the column...I love it! It's not as "pure" as the center speedo, but it's a helluva lot easier to glance down to check to see if your gonna attract the po-po than it is to look to the side. Also the Chrono pack's illumination adjusts with the tach and speedo, so it's easy to tweak so that it's not intrusive.

Plus it's funny when people look in your cockpit and comment that you've got more gauges than an airplane!

 

I didn't realize there was "good" engine damage! (just kidding!!!)

 

Well actually, if you were looking for an excuse to re-engine a car.......

 

Acorin, the fellow members posted some good information on oil pressure! IMHO every car should come with a "true" oil pressure out of the box.

 

Like ashboomstick said, the OP gauge is an indicator of oil temp, or viscosity, anyway. Having both you don't really need it for that purpose, but in cars with just an OP gauge (like my old miata) I can tell by the OP when the car is truly warmed up.

 

Indeed. A recent car of mine had no oil pressure guage. It had a sensor, and a light that theoretically came on if the sensor detected too little pressure.

Well, that was a nice theory.

Problem is, when the sensor self-destructed, the car didn't detect this as a problem. Even though all my oil was being pumped out of the hole where the sensor used to be. Until I heard tapping and saw smoke. Hmmm. That can't be good. Hey, nothing that can't be fixed by adding a quart of oil every 1000 miles...

Wish that car had an OP guage...

 

You must have gotten the Siberian package....

 

Thanks all for the additional info. I really appreciate it. I am used to oil temp guages, but this is my first oil pressure one (since I've paid any attention to what guages I have or don't on my cars anyway).

Ashboomstick, on cold mornings, I have noticed the pressure act as you described - I guess that means things are working as they should.

Agreed on the lots of guages are cool point too!

 

... Here are a couple of pics that should address his question(s)...

... First picture is the instrument panel from the driver's seat. Pretty easy to see both the tach and speedo through the JCW steering wheel. The legibility of the combination gauge in the center is good as well.

Next, a detail of the center gauge...

... had to undo my seat belt to get in the right position for this shot.

 

Thanks 29, those pictures addressed my question very well indeed.