Where should the temperature gauge normally be when the car is at running temperature... Mine has always been between 1/3 and 1/2... but then again it's had a bhg since I got it... :3d_frown:
Question about our temp gauges...
- Thread starter fiyota
- Start date
Unfortunately the stock temperature gauge was built to be inaccurate and slow, probably to keep worrysome owners from freaking out everytime the gauge moved. As such you can't get any kind of decent reading off the stock gauge. If it moves around a lot then you definitely have a problem, but the location where it sits is meaningless. I've seen some cars sit a couple needle widths over C and I've seen some sit a couple needle widths over the half mark, it really doesn't mean anything with a frame of reference. If you're worried about it go get an aftermarket water temp gauge, even a cheap Autometer is better then stock.
Quick observation on this: A few weeks back when I did the 30psi/slight BHG thing after the dyno I monitored temps using my Standalone ECU hand controller while watching the stock gauge!
Between 70c/158f and 90c/194f there would be maybe a needle width change with 100c/212f being about half gauge!
Our gauges have some serious damping happening!
Between 70c/158f and 90c/194f there would be maybe a needle width change with 100c/212f being about half gauge!
Our gauges have some serious damping happening!
Yeah, check out the specs in the TSRM for our gauge for a good laugh. It's seriously just an "ok light". Either everything is ok or you're in trouble. 
^^^
These men speak the truth.
It's even worse on 89+ gauges that have no markings. Even if it does move, you can't even tell until it REALLY moves.
These men speak the truth.
It's even worse on 89+ gauges that have no markings. Even if it does move, you can't even tell until it REALLY moves.
Yeah, I like my Autometer just fine...I look at the factory temp gauge as a trend indicator more than anything else...it's either warming up to temp, at operating temp, or overheating!
My GReddy temp gauge has gone over 105*C before while the stock gauge stayed rock solid at just below halfway.
I really wish Toyota offered something else we could replace the stupid temp gauge with, here even more so than with the popular NA cluster's Voltmeter into Turbo cluster's Boost place gauge mod...at least the stock boost gauge is more than just a glorified idiot light...
I really wish Toyota offered something else we could replace the stupid temp gauge with, here even more so than with the popular NA cluster's Voltmeter into Turbo cluster's Boost place gauge mod...at least the stock boost gauge is more than just a glorified idiot light...
but the stock boost gauge is still slow as hell to react. When I romp in it in first gear it goes from vac4psi to pegged instantly...it's like a light switch...offffffffffff...ON!
I want to retain factory gauge locations for boost, oil pres, and temp...but use newer better gauges, but I've only ever seen the boost gauge done.
somebody needs to a make a new gauge kit for our cars that comes with all aftermarket gauges mounting in factory locations
I want to retain factory gauge locations for boost, oil pres, and temp...but use newer better gauges, but I've only ever seen the boost gauge done.
somebody needs to a make a new gauge kit for our cars that comes with all aftermarket gauges mounting in factory locations
True...I think it's safe to say that none of the stock gauges in the cluster are very precise or responsive in any sense. The turbo tach is so slow it's like watching an instant replay...
Makes me even more nervous about oil pressure though.
I've seen custom jobs with aftermarket gauges in the stock bezel and it looks ok, but the factory setup looks so much cleaner in my opinion. Its just a real shame that it doesn't perform as well as it looks.
Maybe once this carbon fibre shortage is over (and I get some $$$) we should proposition Duane with the idea of a custom cf gauge cluster for 52/60mm gauges? It'd be sweet to have something that holds the gauges at similar angles as the stock setup. I still worry that it won't be as clean and tasteful as the stock setup, even if it is functional.
To the parent, sorry--I don't mean to hijack the thread, I promise!
Makes me even more nervous about oil pressure though.
I've seen custom jobs with aftermarket gauges in the stock bezel and it looks ok, but the factory setup looks so much cleaner in my opinion. Its just a real shame that it doesn't perform as well as it looks.
Maybe once this carbon fibre shortage is over (and I get some $$$) we should proposition Duane with the idea of a custom cf gauge cluster for 52/60mm gauges? It'd be sweet to have something that holds the gauges at similar angles as the stock setup. I still worry that it won't be as clean and tasteful as the stock setup, even if it is functional.
To the parent, sorry--I don't mean to hijack the thread, I promise!
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haha no worries, it's been a good thread to read.. and some good ideas have come out of it. I would love it if there was a way to replace the temp gauge in the dash with a better one, but still have it look factory... like, is there away to take an aftermarket one and merge it with the old one? (use the same needle and face etc..)
That would be ideal.
That would be ideal.
Someone had a totally sweet writeup for modding the factory boost gauge to read higher boost levels. It included instructions on how to make a new gauge face using a laser printer. Very well written, lots of thought put into it.
...but as billspreston01 wrote, it's still an unresponsive, overdamped gauge. A problem with changing out the internals of the stock gauges--specifically the temp gauge--is the direction that the needle swings. Notice how the needle is on the left, and cold is on the bottom? If you took a standard gauge (not a wide-sweep/270-degree gauge) and put it in there, the lower range would be up where the "H" is, and the high range would be down where the "C" is--essentially backwards. So you'd not only have to find a gauge that fit in the space allowed, but one you could change to reverse the needle direction! not an easy task--also, it'd be hard to use the needle on a 270* sweep gauge unless you cut it down.
Short version--you could do it, but it'd be time consuming, messy and probably rather expensive. Somebody (please) prove me wrong, because I'd love to see another gauge I could throw in there...
...but as billspreston01 wrote, it's still an unresponsive, overdamped gauge. A problem with changing out the internals of the stock gauges--specifically the temp gauge--is the direction that the needle swings. Notice how the needle is on the left, and cold is on the bottom? If you took a standard gauge (not a wide-sweep/270-degree gauge) and put it in there, the lower range would be up where the "H" is, and the high range would be down where the "C" is--essentially backwards. So you'd not only have to find a gauge that fit in the space allowed, but one you could change to reverse the needle direction! not an easy task--also, it'd be hard to use the needle on a 270* sweep gauge unless you cut it down.
Short version--you could do it, but it'd be time consuming, messy and probably rather expensive. Somebody (please) prove me wrong, because I'd love to see another gauge I could throw in there...