What info do you need before and during "enthusiastic" driving

[jvanzyl]

Hi Folks,
Purpose of this thread is to illicit your thoughts and opinions on what information you need before and during enthusiastic driving so that you don't hurt your engine and can protect it should something start go wrong.

1 - Oil Pressure
I have become acquainted with the value in having an Oil Pressure gauge

But not wanting to just have ONE (especially when they make triple gauges) I was wondering what other info you folks think would be useful?

2
3

We all know this triple gauge holder here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Mr2-roadster-3-gauge-dash-pod/202381781041

but there are cheaper alternatives which don't look half bad:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52mm-Universal-Triple-Hole-Racing-Car-Gauge-Meter-Pod-Dash-Holder-Carbon-Centre/372382251206?fits=Model%3AMR+2&hash=item56b3b638c6:g:c8MAAOSwf31bWhNU

[jonbill]

2 I would use for oil temp.
Without pressure and temp you can't be sure you have flow, and flow is what gets oil where it needs to be.

Oil temp comes up slower than coolant temp, so an oil temp gauge and setting yourself a min temp of say 70 deg before giving it any stick is a good thing.

[jvanzyl]

2 I would use for oil temp.
Without pressure and temp you can't be sure you have flow, and flow is what gets oil where it needs to be.

Oil temp comes up slower than coolant temp, so an oil temp gauge and setting yourself a min temp of say 70 deg before giving it any stick is a good thing.

Cool :-)
Ok oil pressure and temperature then..

What's the last spot gonna be then?
Voltage? Errrr..... AFR.... erm ... That's like all I know....

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[1979scotte]

If going FI then AFR and EGT can be handy.
AFR is probably more easily understood.
Agree with oil temp and pressure.

The 5 I  have are oil temp oil pressure boost EGT and AFR. All on my PLX multi gauge which is a great idea but in practice falls short. Never ever got the Bluetooth app to work either.

IAT is another good one if turbo is on the cards.

[Carolyn]

2 I would use for oil temp.
Without pressure and temp you can't be sure you have flow, and flow is what gets oil where it needs to be.

Oil temp comes up slower than coolant temp, so an oil temp gauge and setting yourself a min temp of say 70 deg before giving it any stick is a good thing.

Cool :-)
Ok oil pressure and temperature then..

What's the last spot gonna be then?
Voltage? Errrr..... AFR.... erm ... That's like all I know....

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

That's all there is!!  BTW.  It takes 20 mins running to get oil fully up to temp.

[jvanzyl]

20 mins!!??
Wow so I've (and I suspect MOST others have )been a bit too early with the ol 'beans giving....

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[shnazzle]

20 mins!!??
Wow so I've (and I suspect MOST others have )been a bit too early with the ol 'beans giving....

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Yeah but how many of us really give it "the beans"?

Turbo etc is a different matter. You wait. You wait, boy, until dat oil be hot!

But I suspect most of us barely show the car more than 4.5k rpm.

.... I'm clearly not one of those people... But I wait like a good boy

[jvanzyl]

I'm thinking I'm just going to leave the car running for like 10 mins before I head off!

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[jvanzyl]

If going FI then AFR and EGT can be handy.
AFR is probably more easily understood.
Agree with oil temp and pressure.

The 5 I  have are oil temp oil pressure boost EGT and AFR. All on my PLX multi gauge which is a great idea but in practice falls short. Never ever got the Bluetooth app to work either.

IAT is another good one if turbo is on the cards.

Well turbo might be on the cards if I can get old Alibaba to play ball... ;-)

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[1979scotte]

20 mins!!??
Wow so I've (and I suspect MOST others have )been a bit too early with the ol 'beans giving....

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

An oil temp gauge is a educational.

[SuperArt]

On the rare occasions I go out in mine I always let idle for 1-2mins so the cold oil has a chance to work around the entire engine before setting off. Then it's 10-15mins of 2krpm short shift driving until the rest of the drivetrain had warmed up and it's not until the water temp is bang on do I start cooking (fan assisted).
After cooking remove the right foot from the hot plate and let it rest. Coast around at low rpm setting for about 5mins before finally parking up and letting the engine breathe and relax at room temperature for a further 5mins.
Turn off the hob. Cover with a dust sheet.
Serves 2.

[mrzwei]

Personally, I wouldn't get too preoccupied with oil temp, important as it is but oil viscosity is a significant factor; that is why multi grade oils are used as they are designed to cope with a wide range of temperatures. I think that 10w-40 is the average but if you want to thrash it from cold then something like Mobil 1 is 0W-40? and will circulate well from cold. The Oppie oils web site has good info.

[Ardent]

JV
The all important third guage.

The motor is covered by the first two.

I would suggest a secondary temp guage hooked up to a rectal thermometer to measure, how "enthusiastic" the driver is.

[shnazzle]

If the car is N/A without any silly trickery, I don't see much use in any of these gauges tbh.

More of a "because race car" thing for most people I think

[Carolyn]

The main reason I run an oil pressure gauge is to spot sudden dips in pressure.

For that to work, the gauge needs to be in line-of-sight, analogue and non-damped.

Plenty of cars have sucked air on long corners (admittedly at speed!!) and done in the bottom end. 

Otherwise, it's pretty much all 'bling'.....