Hi all,
I am planning to take the vac/temp/oil press/fuel level part of the gauge panel out of a gasser benz and put it in place of my existing tach and clock. I have seen it done, so I believe it is possible and can't take any credit. I will use the fuel level, temp, and vac for my vegoil system. Now what to do with the oil press. I don't even know what the 1,2 and 3 stand for. I could use it for pressure between lift pump and ip but it would be very low I'm assuming and is kind of redundant. Could I possibly use it as a boost gauge? Any ideas? I'd prefer not to have it just sitting there useless, maybe I could rig it into a tranny temp gauge or ???

Nobody knows of a source for a fuel level sender that would go 0ohms full and 90 empty. I am told this is the way the system works on the benz, but any commonly available sender is exactly backwards. I could switch the E and F, or just use it as a wallet gauge (the farther I go the fuller it gets).

I might sneak the tach or an aftermarket tach somewhere in the glove box, or might wait until I actually need it (I like watching it but don't really need it).

__________________
1985 300D, 237k.
1994 F-350, 6.9 diesel, 5 spd manual, Banks Turbo. 261k.
Sold: 1985 300CD- 267K

the 1,2,3 is the pressure measurement.. its metric so its in bar... not psi

Aprox. 15, 30, 45psi

__________________
Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

When you have the gauge set in hand, you might be able to move individual gauges around. Replace the oil pressure gauge with another vacuum gauge. The vacuum gauge is easily modified to display boost. I don't know if a vertical orientation will alter the reading but it should be a simple matter to put your own graduations (is that the right word?).

Can you rework the fuel sender to work upside down?

Sixto
93 300SD

90E-0F ohms is a common VDO "Tube Type" sender. Available from about 5 inches long to over 3 feet long if you look hard enough. Depending on your second tank, you may be able to use a specific MB junk yard sender. Like using a wagon sender in a shallow tank. 90-0 ohm senders are also sometimes used in marine applications. On my WVO conversion, I am using the main guage for both fuel tanks, switching the senders with a relay and I am using a second coolant sender to measure WVO temperature, also switching to the stock gauge.

http://www.egauges.com/vdo_send.asp?Sender=VDO_Adjustable is a list of some of the senders. Don't forget that the actual MB senders have a low fuel contact too.

__________________
Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

thanks very much guys.
Assuming (which we all know what assuming does) that it is basically in graduations of 15,30, and 45 psi, I'm guessing this would be of no use for a boost gauge, unless I was putting it on a big truck with heavy mods. Correct? So maybe I'll have to scavenge a few more parts from another gasser benz, and have either a boost gauge or temp gauge for the trans.
After reading WD8CDH's post, I smacked myself in the head. It says right on the gauge VDO. I'll get a VDO sender.

__________________
1985 300D, 237k.
1994 F-350, 6.9 diesel, 5 spd manual, Banks Turbo. 261k.
Sold: 1985 300CD- 267K

Might be a little off topic, but what is the normal oil pressure? I think mine may be a bit too high, the PO overfilled the oil by alot [over the full mark on the dipstick when cold], and I'm doing an oil change in 2 days so I've just left it for now.

Normal is pegged at 3 bar or 45 psi when cruising and above 1 bar or 15 psi when idling. 3 bar or 45 psi when idling is generally a good thing. 3 bar or 45 psi with the key on but engine not running means a bad gauge or sender.

TW, maybe you can run a line to the oil cooler so you know when it's in the circuit. Actually, engine oil temp would be nice to know.

Sixto
93 300SD

So its not too bad that my gauge sits at 2 on idle and goes off the scale at high RPMs?

That's pretty good, actually. If you are getting 2 bars at idle with a hot engine you are in good shape.

If you ever see it not pegged when you're above about 1500 rpm, stop and shut it off immediately.

"A man with an oil pressure gauge knows what his oil pressure is;
a man with two oil pressure gauges is never sure."

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I just checked it again today on the way home from school, its on 3! when idle with a cool engine. Is this really good, or bad?

You expect higher oil pressure when the oil's cold.

Sixto
93 300SD