What is your take on this gauge opinion?

[Al B]

Volksworld magazine ran a small temp gauge comparison test in their ‘SUMMER 2001’ issue.

They took a few well known gauges - Autometer, Jaeger and VDO(x2 one made in USA the other Malaysia)
Various senders - pressure relief valve plug, sump plug, T piece from the oil pressure takeoff on the ‘case, and a dipstick sender (VDO).

The ‘Controlled Test’ consisted of having a saucepan of hot oil on a stove.
The senders dipped into the oil.
The gauges wired up to the senders.

The gauges then had their readings checked against a ‘highly accurate’ (their words not mine) industrial thermometer.

This gave them the results of which gauge AND sender unit were the most accurate.

Here ya go…..

TRUE TEMP
80 90 100 110 122 127
VDO 1 (T-PIECE)
79 90 102 110 123 131
VDO 2 (T-PIECE)
80 85 99 105 120 131
VDO (DIPSTICK)
82 85 100 109 120 130
AUTOMETER
79 85 99 109 121 127
JAEGER
81 90 98 120 130 130+

Now….

None of them are 100% accurate,

But then none of them are massively off the mark either, certainly not the huge variation that has been mentioned above.

Just my 2 pence/cents

[oasis]

Aha! (An exclamation, not the band) This confirms my suspicions.

[zen]

remember, they are called gauges and we refer to things as "gauging them" for a reason. its a relative thing. you will never find one 100% accurate and don't need to as long as you know where there is a swing in temp that you need to be concerned or take action. that said, a mostly accurate gauge is nice. where you take the reading is as much a factor as the accuracy of the gauge.