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WATER PRESSURE GAUGE INSTALL SUGGESTIONS

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Old 10-08-2020, 07:22 PM
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996TWINS
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Default WATER PRESSURE GAUGE INSTALL SUGGESTIONS

I would like to add a water pressure gauge.

Any suggestions where to install the sending unit?

TIA
Old 10-08-2020, 07:31 PM
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Capt. Obvious
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I generally don't do this kind of stuff... but WHY? Unless it's for diagnosing a leak in the system, there isn't much practical use to having a coolant pressure gauge. It's always below 16psi unless you have a very defective overflow tank cap.
Old 10-08-2020, 08:00 PM
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theprf
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There is one quite valid reason for a coolant pressure gauge. If you loose coolant the coolant temp senor reads in the OK zone or even lower than normal, because there's no coolant to heat it up. If the coolant temp is OK but the pressure is 0 then the coolant has leaked out.
The first and only time I saw a coolant pressure gauge was in a homebuilt aircraft powered by a Ford 4.0 V6, and the owner/pilot explained the reasoning. I always preferred aircooled engines in my airplane, though.
Old 10-08-2020, 08:21 PM
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996TWINS
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Originally Posted by theprf
There is one quite valid reason for a coolant pressure gauge. If you loose coolant the coolant temp senor reads in the OK zone or even lower than normal, because there's no coolant to heat it up. If the coolant temp is OK but the pressure is 0 then the coolant has leaked out.
The first and only time I saw a coolant pressure gauge was in a homebuilt aircraft powered by a Ford 4.0 V6, and the owner/pilot explained the reasoning. I always preferred aircooled engines in my airplane, though.
I have had 2 blown coolant hoses and always caught it immediately.

A couple of friends of mine lost/damaged a motor due to the temp reading "normal", but no coolant for the sensor to read as stated in bold in the above quote.



Old 10-08-2020, 10:48 PM
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pancing
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Originally Posted by 996TWINS
I would like to add a water pressure gauge.

Any suggestions where to install the sending unit?

TIA
Coolant reservoir tank?

I mean a giant puff of steam should tell you if you blew a line.
Old 10-09-2020, 01:59 AM
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johnnysegel
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Originally Posted by 996TWINS
I would like to add a water pressure gauge.

Any suggestions where to install the sending unit?

TIA
In the 997.1 cup car it is located in the engine bay on the left side. There a aluminium tube going there.
I know the question is for a 996 turbo but i guess it would be similar.

johnny
Old 10-09-2020, 01:33 PM
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T Kono
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I've never looked, but do we have level sensors / warning light for low coolant?
Old 10-09-2020, 01:40 PM
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theprf
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Yes, there is a level sensor in the coolant reservoir. It flashes the red light in the temperature gauge when level is low.
Were I to hook up a coolant pressure sender I would one of the in-line 1/8 NPT adapters. I think Pegasus Racing Supplies sells them. I'd cut a section out of one of the hoses that run to the heater, probably near the right front of the gearbox under the car, and install the adapter and pressure sender there.
Old 10-09-2020, 01:43 PM
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nbressette
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I'd add one using a welded an fitting on one of the coolant elbows at the bottoms of the engine. Same way we do lines for water cooled turbos.

That way you could run a hose to move the sensor wherever was most convenient.
Old 10-09-2020, 03:30 PM
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s65e90
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This makes zero sense to me, but you'd want an electric gauge if mounted inside.
Old 10-09-2020, 03:31 PM
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s65e90
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Originally Posted by theprf
There is one quite valid reason for a coolant pressure gauge. If you loose coolant the coolant temp senor reads in the OK zone or even lower than normal, because there's no coolant to heat it up. If the coolant temp is OK but the pressure is 0 then the coolant has leaked out.
The first and only time I saw a coolant pressure gauge was in a homebuilt aircraft powered by a Ford 4.0 V6, and the owner/pilot explained the reasoning. I always preferred aircooled engines in my airplane, though.
If you loose all coolant the temp gauge will flash higher pretty quick due to seeing air running across it. There's no reason for this.
Old 10-09-2020, 03:46 PM
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nbressette
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Originally Posted by s65e90
If you loose all coolant the temp gauge will flash higher pretty quick due to seeing air running across it. There's no reason for this.
This has been my experience as well with other cars. OP seems to indicate he's been burned before with the sensor being out of water and reading fine.
Old 10-10-2020, 03:18 PM
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996TWINS
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Originally Posted by T Kono
I've never looked, but do we have level sensors / warning light for low coolant?
Originally Posted by s65e90
If you loose all coolant the temp gauge will flash higher pretty quick due to seeing air running across it. There's no reason for this.
Yes. There is a sensor but failed to flash each time.



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