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RT Fuel and Water Temp Guage Replacement

SilverSurfer

RT-S PE#0391
So okay, I'm currently interested in undoing the instrument cowl on my RT-S PE and pulling the plugs on the current RT fuel and water temp guages: Result -- these two metrics will be displayed on the RT-S's multi-function guage. I think it's odd that these features are built in to the multifunction guage by default, and I guess one sees them 'for free' if one doesn't have the additional analogue guages, as is the case with a base RT .... but if one has an RT-S, they throw on the mediocre analogue guages as if it's an improvement; and give a base RT owner the option of spending more money to purchase the 'guage pod' accessories. This is what I would call a marketing rope-a-dope.

Back to the point: I'm most interested in the guages from AEM or Cyberdyne. The fuel guage replacement is academic. It will be replaced with a voltmeter. The water temp guage replacement, however, has me a bit more undecided. I was originally thinking 'ambient air temperature.' but sure-nuff, ambient air temperature is picked up on my multi-function guage. Now I'm wondering what else is useful. Potential Options:

1. Oil Pressure: These are okay, but I remember doing one of these things on a car and it started leaking .... mmmneah. I always check my oil anyway.

2. Oil Temperature: Hmm ... When is oil too hot? Like when it's hot enough to deep fry chicken? Plus, I'd think one would get nasty readings on the water temp guage first if we had an engine heat problem.

3. Air-Fuel: This is an interesting option; not that one can do anything about adjusting air fuel without getting experimental with the 02 settings. However, I did read that one can monitor the A/F mixture while accelerating, cruising and looking for shift points. If one is shifting up at too low RPMS and luggng the engine, A/F would indicate rich, meaning one should shift at higher revs; then one adjusts ryding style to optimize shifting and mpg. Okay ... I've talked myself into this option, but ...

The A/F guage hooks into the O2 sensor (no rocket science there), but now I also understand that there are different bandwidths of guages to monitor different types of engines ....

AND HERE'S WHERE I REACH OUT TO MY SPYDER BRETHEREN: Is there anyone out there who has hooked in an A/F guage, and if so what brand and type (narrow/wide band), and how is it working for you? Plusses? Minuses? Utility? Precautions?

Thanks

~ Surfer
 
I have worked alot with Wide Bands on the race motors and some of my street cars. I was able to dial in WOT better to increase power also adjust the cruise tune to increase MPG (assuming the fuel controller is present for adjusting). I've also used a few narrow band gauges.

Which is better, hands down the WB is far more accurate but it really depends on what are doing to do with it? The WB is over kill if you are just wanting to monitor a non-adjustable AFR (narrow band would be just fine for this). If you have means to adjust the fuel on the Spyder, via fuel controller, and the extra $$$ for the WB; I say get it. I have it in my mod list for the future mostly for a lean tune to get some better MPG out of the RT.

Hope that helps & Good Luck :2thumbs:
 
oh one more thing I forgot to mention --- the narrow band uses you factory O2 sensor (splices in the signal wire) where the Wide Band will have its own ($70 to 90) WB sensor specific for WB gauge use.
 
Check out Dakota Digital

I replaced my gas gauge with a digital clock with day/date and temp guage #HYL3161 and I replaced the temp. guage with a digital voltmeter #HYL 3051 , they look great and the clock is very easy to see. They are for motorcycles and are waterproof and are made for the 2 1/16 hole.
Dakota digital

Newman 1
 
AND HERE'S WHERE I REACH OUT TO MY SPYDER BRETHEREN:

Well, after due care and deliberation this bretheren thinks he doesn't need yet another gauge dragging his thoughts away from the pleasure of riding his [over]complicated Spyder, he has more than enough of that :cus: already. :roflblack:
 
The bank & turn or pitch & yaw would be redundant for me, mine is called Gloria.
...I've got the Kathy model... the EXTRA loud audible one!:shocked:

Extra gauges? I'd take another look at oil pressure. They've come a long way in the past 40 years! After all; if you catch a problem with it before it gets serious...
 
My 2011 RTS-SE5 is at dealer for 600 mile service, and I am changing gas and temp gauges for Autometer Digital Volt and Oil pressure gauges. Better safe than sorry.
 
Oil Pressure ... Yes.

Indeed, I'm re-looking the oil pressure guage option. Problem is, I can't find any successful experience or info on where it integrates on the Spyder. I might have my mechanics do this one. Like baldman has, I'd go for voltmeter on left and oilpressure on right. Wonder if the can do that so the idiot light still works?

Best,


Paul
 
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