Temperature gauge? yay or nay, or HOW?!

[Dylano*]

So, I'm a believer in gauges.
I like knowing how my engine it's doing.
If it was up to me, car instrument panels would look like that of an airplane.

That being said,
Am I ridiculous for wanting a temperature gauge on my 82 xj1100?

If I'm not, and its been done;
How would I go about such a thing?

[Yahman]

On the XJ it's easy to do. Get an electronic digital temp gauge. Remove the oil level sensor for the pan and make a plate to cover the hole. Mount the sending unit in that plate. Wire it in and your good to go.

Larry

[natemoen]

I mounted a digital temp gauge sender in the back of the oil pan.

[BA80]

Better question is............why?

[CaptonZap]

It will give him something else to worry about.

Another question is, what will you do about high temps?

I took a hand held infra red thermometer and aimed it down at the hollow by the spark plug as I was riding. Figured that was the hottest place on the engine. Rode across the great Mo Javey Desert in the noonday sun, and didn't see anything that was hot enough to be of a concern.
YMMV

CZ

[BA80]

I guess if it gets too hot you could stop and add more air......

Ummmmmm..........wait........

[Dylano*]

On the XJ it's easy to do. Get an electronic digital temp gauge. Remove the oil level sensor for the pan and make a plate to cover the hole. Mount the sending unit in that plate. Wire it in and your good to go.

Larry

But an oil level unit is great too!
Hmmm... I guess it REALLY wouldn't be something that should be needed the more I think about it... I just don't want the thing to over heat.

I guess I just wanted it so i can see IF IT IS ever getting close to "too" hot, whatever that is, I could pull over and let it cool for a while. ...Or stop riding the crap out of it for a few at least... hahaha

[IanDMacDonald]

I've been riding air-cooled bikes since a kid, and have never once had an issue with over-heating. Running it low on oil is a whole other issue.

[donebysunday]

Regular oil breaks down around 260°, synthetic goes to almost 300°, seeing what your oil temp is at can tell you what the rest of your engine is doing. I like the idea even if only to check during a high speed prolonged run on the slab or mountains on a hot day.

[Yahman]

Regular oil breaks down around 260°, synthetic goes to almost 300°, seeing what your oil temp is at can tell you what the rest of your engine is doing. I like the idea even if only to check during a high speed prolonged run on the slab or mountains on a hot day.

That's why I installed one on my bike, along with an oil pressure gauge.

Larry

[Dylano*]

Maybe a low oil light would be better?
I'm trying to keep this bike very minimalist, but It's hard when I also want gauges! But on this bike I'd prefer basically just a tach and speedo...

Was there a low oil light on this bike originally?
If so, I could probably find it in the harness right?

[natemoen]

Maybe a low oil light would be better?
I'm trying to keep this bike very minimalist, but It's hard when I also want gauges! But on this bike I'd prefer basically just a tach and speedo...

Was there a low oil light on this bike originally?
If so, I could probably find it in the harness right?

Yes, on the XJ the oil light is a low oil level light.

[Dylano*]

Sweet I'll have to find where to hook one up to!

[Yahman]

If your that low on oil, I would hope you figure it out before the dummy light comes on.

This is my oil pressure and oil temp gauge setup with the sending units.



Oil temp sending unit.


Oil pressure sending unit.


Line going to sending unit.


Ride safe,
Larry

[DiverRay]

If it's any help, I rode my '79 on I-8 in late June. 85MPH and 118F, I was cooked but the bike never missed a beat! Just use good oil, and change often when you do things like that.