What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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ThatBloke
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What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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Some vehicles have better factory coolant monitoring systems but the fact remains that catastrophic/rapid coolant loss equals catastrophic engine failure, by the time you notice something is wrong it's too late and then the full rebuild starts, with newer engines that can easily go well past R50k, some even north of R100k. It's so dire that some factory temp sensors only work when there's coolant covering them, no coolant equals temp sensor doesn't even pick up the overheating :crazy:

What aftermarket coolant monitoring systems are available, something that warns you on low coolant level and/or high engine temps?
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by kylebassani »

That is a really good question, would like to get some answers on this to.
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by Howie-WP »

There is always the MadMan that guys use on Defenders and other Landies

https://www.madman.co.za/index.php
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ThatBloke
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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Howie-WP wrote:There is always the MadMan that guys use on Defenders and other Landies

https://www.madman.co.za/index.php
Looks good, on sedans/most passenger vehicles you'd have to use the DIY kit:
https://www.madman.co.za/index.php/wher ... ry/diy-kit
Around R4k for a setup
The madman display unit is a bit of an overkill for most purposes, it can do a lot of other monitoring if you buy all the extra sender units.

There must be other options on the market apart from Madman?
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by Howie-WP »

There was a Little Black Box, which gave audible (and light) alarms for water temp and water loss.

http://www.littleblackbox.co.za/

Checked these out for my Defender. Ended up buying the VW expansion bottle and will hook up to simple light.
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by MrMazda »

I think Auto-watch has a system where they screw an additional sensor into the radiator top tank. which is linked to the immobiliser which then cut ignition current if the sensor detect water loss. Speak to Anton Meyer at Motion Fitment Centre they have installed many of these on military vehicles.
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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ThatBloke wrote:Some vehicles have better factory coolant monitoring systems but the fact remains that catastrophic/rapid coolant loss equals catastrophic engine failure, by the time you notice something is wrong it's too late and then the full rebuild starts, with newer engines that can easily go well past R50k, some even north of R100k. It's so dire that some factory temp sensors only work when there's coolant covering them, no coolant equals temp sensor doesn't even pick up the overheating :crazy:

What aftermarket coolant monitoring systems are available, something that warns you on low coolant level and/or high engine temps?
Don't see why the low coolant level would be something you wouldn't physically see?

surely puddle on the floor is the first sign, get a glowshift temp gauge from FSU Developments some of them have an audible alarm and a light when the temp is too high, you preset it to whatever temperature you want.
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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AlexTDi wrote:
ThatBloke wrote:Some vehicles have better factory coolant monitoring systems but the fact remains that catastrophic/rapid coolant loss equals catastrophic engine failure, by the time you notice something is wrong it's too late and then the full rebuild starts, with newer engines that can easily go well past R50k, some even north of R100k. It's so dire that some factory temp sensors only work when there's coolant covering them, no coolant equals temp sensor doesn't even pick up the overheating :crazy:

What aftermarket coolant monitoring systems are available, something that warns you on low coolant level and/or high engine temps?
Don't see why the low coolant level would be something you wouldn't physically see?

surely puddle on the floor is the first sign, get a glowshift temp gauge from FSU Developments some of them have an audible alarm and a light when the temp is too high, you preset it to whatever temperature you want.
Suppose you might spot a leak if you drive with the windows wide open, your head stuck out and scanning the bottom of car for leaks, might be a bit of a challenge at 120km/hr freeway driving but each to his own..
:D

Sometimes cooling systems pop a serious leak randomly whilst on the move, certain vehicles Audi and BMW apparently have a tendency to do this, also road debris thrown into the radiator can do a similar thing on any vehicle. So the coolant dumps in a minute or 2 and bobs your daughter engine cooked. You may be fortunate enough to somehow notice it early but more often than not it's only when the engine starts seizing that you get an idea of something amiss.

Probably not the biggest issue on a 1.4l cheapie but as the engine gets bigger and more complex an engine write off out of warranty becomes quite a serious affair, never mind the hassle during and after the rebuild.
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by panic-mechanic »

What car do you drive? . Vw includes both since very early year cars. Asa matter of fact coolant level since 1980.
But look at MGL avionics. There is something called an engine monitor.
Madman takes that and repurposes or makes up plug and play harnesses using that as the base and then charge people a living fortune.
Thy are a local company based in stellenbosh
Www.mglavionics.co.za
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ThatBloke
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by ThatBloke »

Thanks panic, just the info I'm looking for.

Haven't got the vehicle yet but thinking of getting 6 cylinder Audi or BMW and those are not the engines you want to overheat.
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by NHB_R »

P3 gauge?
Awron Gauge?
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by Ashveer03 »

@OP u are correct, bmw loves to blow those water flanges around and under the intake manifold. Changed tons of those.

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ThatBloke
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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panic-mechanic wrote:What car do you drive? . Vw includes both since very early year cars. Asa matter of fact coolant level since 1980.
But look at MGL avionics. There is something called an engine monitor.
Madman takes that and repurposes or makes up plug and play harnesses using that as the base and then charge people a living fortune.
Thy are a local company based in stellenbosh
http://Www.mglavionics.co.za
Panic if you have a chance could you please have a look on that site and direct me to the units you are referring to?
I had a look and I can't see anything that looks like the Madman base unit.

Only page that looks close is called RDAC engine monitors but those units look like they interface with an existing display:
http://www.mglavionics.co.za/RDAC.htm
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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NHB_R wrote:P3 gauge?
Awron Gauge?
Those are some classy monitoring systems but the prices are pretty insane, that's US street prices, hate to know the SA street price.
I want cheapest possible DIY solution that's sound, Panics option looks promising.
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by panic-mechanic »

Stephan van Tonder - Jhb - Putfontein Benoni
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ThatBloke
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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Thanks Panic, will those guys sell to the public or do you need to order via a retailer?
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by panic-mechanic »

order straight from them and they mail.
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ThatBloke
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

Post by ThatBloke »

Panic, sorry to be a pita but I'm in front of the PC now and I can't find the E3 or EMS at either of those links?
Edit, found the E-3, EMS still mia!
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Re: What aftermarket Coolant Monitor, coolant level and Temp?

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Found the E-3 at another site for R2k incl vate:
http://cometaviationsupplies.co.za/inde ... ct_id=3703
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