where to get EGT meter? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

reinier · #1 01-09-2006, 03:40 PM

hello,

Ive been reading here that there are a few people who have exhaust gas temperature meters in their diesels.

Where are these available?
Which make etc.
Maybe a picture of how its installed?

Thanks in advance!

Mitch H · #2 01-09-2006, 04:57 PM

I bought an Autometer Z-series on eBay, got lucky, it was brand new as advertised.
You can check out www.egauges.com and see what the Autometers and VDOs go for, the other brands are a bit pricy. VDO Cockpit is a very good match for the VDO gauges that MBZ already put in the car.

whunter · #3 01-09-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reinier

hello,

Ive been reading here that there are a few people who have exhaust gas temperature meters in their diesels.

Where are these available?
Which make etc.
Maybe a picture of how its installed?

Thanks in advance!

EGT gauge
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=EGT+gauge&btnG=Google+Search

reinier · #4 01-10-2006, 05:35 AM

Thanks, found some at Ebay!

jbaj007 · #5 01-10-2006, 02:15 PM

The ultralight aircraft guys use EGT gauges all the time. Some of those sites and forums hold good information and tips on where to get them and installation. I got a Westech thru one of them.

Jeremy5848 · #6 08-20-2006, 01:02 AM

I've been reading the threads on boost gauges and Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) gauges and such; one of the challenges mentioned was finding a place to drill and tap a hole for the thermocouple or whatever kind of sensor the EGT gauge uses. I was worried about that, as the California emissions version of the 617.952 engine is so covered with junk that one can barely see the exhaust manifold, much less touch it.

However, when I actually looked, I found that not only can the exhaust manifold be seen (at the rear of the engine), but there is a tapped hole with a bolt screwed in as a plug (see picture). The location is just before the exhaust goes into the trap cat (yes, mine has the factory 'upgrade'). The bolt looks to be an 8 or 10 mm and has a 15 mm head. With a 1/2 in drive extension and a 12 inch bar I was able to break the bolt free (yes, I was surprised). I didn't take it out but it looks to be the perfect place for an EGT sensor (if I can afford one).

Jeremy

#7 08-20-2006, 01:59 AM

Most thermocouples will be 3/8" or 1/2" NPT. They won't work with metric threads.

Worst case, you can drill and tap the end/side of the manifold near the plug.

jbaj007 · #8 08-20-2006, 03:27 AM

Jeremy,
Post or pre- turbo matters, so know the numbers for each. Some ares to look at:

http://flashoffroad.com/Accessories/Gauges/EGT_Boost/EGT.htm

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/in/egtgauges.html

#9 08-20-2006, 04:37 AM

AFAIK, pre-turbo is the only way to go.
Post turbo, the exhaust has slowed, cooled, and expanded. Safe limits would only be an educated guess as the numbers would vary by turbo type (KKK vs Garrett), exhaust backpressure, and distance from the turbine outlet.

In a perfect world, there would be a pyrometer at each exhaust port to monitor cylinder balance.

Jeremy5848 · #10 08-20-2006, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbaj007

http://flashoffroad.com/Accessories/Gauges/EGT_Boost/EGT.htm

"Note that 1997 and newer turbodiesels have oil sprayed on the pistons for additional cooling."

How long has Mercedes been using oil spray cooling? I know my '85 has it, I believe it goes back to when M-B first added a turbo charger. Can anyone date this event?

#11 08-20-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

"Note that 1997 and newer turbodiesels have oil sprayed on the pistons for additional cooling."

How long has Mercedes been using oil spray cooling? I know my '85 has it, I believe it goes back to when M-B first added a turbo charger. Can anyone date this event?

All the OM617 turbos have it since the 79 300SD. The non-turbo's do not.

Jeremy5848 · #12 08-20-2006, 09:12 PM

I just noticed that the Westach dual boost-egt gauge mentioned in jbaj007's post is in Sonoma, California, just a hop, skip, and a jump away from me. I'll go check out the place, probably buy one after I get my radio project finished.

The thermocouple in the Westach kit is designed to be attached to a tube or pipe by drilling a hole in the sidewall; the thermocouple is held in place with a hose clamp. I'll bet I can buy a new plug for the tapped hole in my exhaust manifold. I'll drill a hole through the plug and come up with some kind of clamp to hold the thermocouple in place.

The dual gauge will make it possible for me to have the following mounted in the space formerly used by the ashtray: EGT/Boost gauge, 12 Volt outlet, Voltmeter. I'll mount the gauges with 15 degree "angle rings" from egauges.com so that they tilt up and over towards the driver. Either wood or painted aluminum can be used for the mounting panel; I'll decide later.

Jeremy5848 · #13 09-24-2006, 02:21 AM

I decided that a dual boost/EGT gauge would be too hard to read while driving so I bought a VDO pyrometer and thermocouple from Don's Sport Vehicle Sales in Perry, Michigan. They are on the web as "egauges.com." I also bought a 15 psi VDO boost gauge and a VDO voltmeter. More on them in a later thread, maybe. (You are right if you guess that I like VDO gauges. I've had 'em on my BMW motorcycles since Shep was a pup.)

The thermocouple comes with a fitting that ends in a 1/4 male pipe thread. I did some measuring and testing and discovered that, although the hole in my exhaust manifold does indeed seem to be 10x1 mm threaded, a 1/8 male pipe fitting goes into the hole just fine. All I had to do was adapt the 1/4 fitting on the thermocouple to the 1/8 hole in the manifold.

I found a 1/4 female to 1/8 male pipe fitting in my "Plumbing" box. The thermocouple probe wouldn't fit: it was 1/4 inch in diameter and the hole through the fitting was too small. Since the fitting was brass, I just drilled it out. The thermocouple then went in like a charm. See the pictures.

Tomorrow I'll put the thermocouple in the manifold and try it out for the first time. I'll post some more pictures at that time.

Jeremy

PanzerSD · #14 09-24-2006, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Most thermocouples will be 3/8" or 1/2" NPT. They won't work with metric threads.

Worst case, you can drill and tap the end/side of the manifold near the plug.

Better would be to drill and tap the plug itself. I'd never drill an exhaust manifold. Especially BEFORE the turbo. at 200,000RPM, a small sliver of steel from drilling is like throwing a bowling ball into a jet engine.

catmandoo62 · #15 09-24-2006, 09:42 AM

i've done quite a few pyros and when i do mine i just drill the manifold right on the car..when you drill the hole just keep checking until you think your about to drill thru,then start the engine,the exhaust pressure will blow the filings out the hole.and if by chance some do get by, the turbo is not spinning that fast.