Can I drive with instrument cluster out
 

Good Morning,

I was thinking about taking my instrument cluster out and have the odometer & clock fixed. Will I be able to drive it while the cluster is out? Will oil come out of the tube that goes to the oil pressure gauge when the car is running? Does this tube wear, and should I replace it while I am doing this maintenance? Thanks.

Hugh Sr
1984 190d (W201)

The oil will come out of that tube unless pluged with a fitting or something.

if there is an oil pressure tube, you will get 45psi or higher hot oil spraying out while you drive...
if you are just getting the clock and odo fixed, leave the oil pressure gauge hooked up.

I tried that once with my '75 300D. I forgot about the oil line and got hot oil on me. I tied to drive back to the parking spot at the apartment I was living by putting my thumb over the end of the tube, but the pressure was too great.

I've not had an '84 190D, but on my '87 190Dt the oil gauge is electric; no oil line.

All 124's are electric too, not sure about early 201's. I had my cluster halfway disconnected with the speedometer out for a day last summer getting it rebuilt. I drove it that day using my GPS as a speedometer ;). Other than the discrepancy in mileage, no issues. The shop added some miles to it after the rebuild; guessing they were added during calibration.

Easy, just remove the speedo and reinstall the cluster, sans speedo and clock. that way you will know the oil pressure, engine temp, and fuel level. Maybe you could put a picture of your significant other in the empty holes. I know, put your wife where the speedo was, and your girlfriend where the clock was.

A mechanic friend was working the vacuum system on a 300D. Wouldn't stop. Had the cluster out while he was doing it. Wanted to check something and tried to start it. He realized his mistake almost immediately. Almost. Started before he could turn the key off. Since the vacuum lines were off the ignition switch it wouldn't stop. Oil all over the inside of the nice lady's car.

Ahh the old-school mechanical oil gauges, ... makes me want a 123.

I use an old oil pressure gauge to "plug" the line. People sometimes looked "shocked" if they notice the interior of your car while your driving around or even parked,.. its Buckeroo Bonzi :D

I drove to and from work yesterday (44 mi) with my entire cluster removed, but I'm not using the factory oil pressure gauge.

I had the misfortune of forgetting to tighten the oil line in the summer.

Such a miserable experience and I still can't get it out of one of my carpets. Luckily "galaxy blue" hides my mistake.


Do you have something that you can hook the oil pressure line up to something like another gauge so you won't have a mess?

See, they ARE addictive:D