Aftermarket guages that use stock sending units?

[dyeager535]

Apparently autometer gauges don't use stock sending unit specs, so they are out. (although from what I've seen, some of the senders LOOK like GM/Delphi pieces, but that may be an attempt to save design costs,

Due to EFI/datalogging and multiple vehicle use, it would make life a lot easier if I could find aftermarket gauges that are reasonably priced, and based on the specs for the GM gauges.

There are other avenues available I could pursue perhaps, but since I already have the gauge "console" that will work with aftermarket gauges, I'd really like to find some gauges that will work just like the GM ones.

Anyone know a manufacturer that makes some like this?

 

[jekquistk5]

That would be nice having something that you could just use an oem sensor in a pinch. Autometers thing is they are accurate, more so than the oem gauges. I bet you could use an oem sender just wouldn't be as accurate as the autometer sender.

 

[sweetk30]

and new gauges most often come with sensors . and who wants to use old high mileage sensors with new gauges ?

 

[dyeager535]

Who says I'd use old senders? I'm having new combination senders/sensors re-threaded to fit in the oil pan drain FWIW.

From the figures I can find, the resistance is indeed different (signifcantly) between OEM senders and Autometer at the same temp. 100* for an autometer is 1123 ohms and 100* for a GM gauge is 340 ohms. I can't find an actual chart for autometers though, only a 250 and 100*F reading, and only to 220* for the GM senders.

Unfortunately most of what is available online is the GM SENSOR specs, not sender, but I was still able to find a couple spec ranges for senders.

 

[Stomis]

That would be nice having something that you could just use an oem sensor in a pinch. Autometers thing is they are accurate, more so than the oem gauges. I bet you could use an oem sender just wouldn't be as accurate as the autometer sender.

No I think what he means is that the Autometer senders are usually a much larger ohm sweep than the stocker. For instance a stock fuel level sender could be 0-90ohm where the Autometer might be 0-240ohm. Might not be a big deal on fuel level but with oil pressure and coolant temp it can make a big difference in what you're actually reading at.

That being said a stocker sender will never work with an aftermarket gauge if it isnt designed in the same ohm range sweep. I believe there are gauges out there designed to be plug and play though. You just need to get your OHM sweep for the stock sender and than summit will let you sort gauge by sender values.

 

[Blue85]

How is datalogging an issue? The ECM of the vehicle knows the resistance curve and converts it, not the laptop software. Are talking about sharing a sender between gauge and ECM?

 

[dyeager535]

Yep, it's the GM three wire coolant temp sender/sensor I'd like to use. I would prefer to be able to use a gauge and datalog off the same sender (not easily do-able for pan oil temps otherwise for instance), not to mention this will make wiring CTS and temp gauge cleaner. Unfortunately datalogging appears to be the easiest part to deal with!

Have yet to find an aftermarket gauge (other than fuel) from anyone thats 0-90 ohms like the OEM guages. Stewart, Equus, Autometer, Sunpro and a couple others that escape me, none will work (plug and play anyway) with a stock sender. Most if not all the aftermarket gauges read higher than stock so that is part of the difference, but the resistance at every temp is much different.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Yep, it's the GM three wire coolant temp sender/sensor I'd like to use. I would prefer to be able to use a gauge and datalog off the same sender (not easily do-able for pan oil temps otherwise for instance), not to mention this will make wiring CTS and temp gauge cleaner. Unfortunately datalogging appears to be the easiest part to deal with!

Have yet to find an aftermarket gauge (other than fuel) from anyone thats 0-90 ohms like the OEM guages. Stewart, Equus, Autometer, Sunpro and a couple others that escape me, none will work (plug and play anyway) with a stock sender. Most if not all the aftermarket gauges read higher than stock so that is part of the difference, but the resistance at every temp is much different.

Aftermarket gauges are ALL needing specific sensors/senders for the brand of gauge. The exception is fuel gauge, those can be had to work with a couple different OHM reading senders (most GM fuel senders are 0-90 ohm).

 

[Blue85]

You could just run 2 coolant sensors in different locations. But I'm with you - I'd rather have an OEM sensor I can replace at any parts store or a junkyard than something custom I have to order and hope is still available.

 

[dyeager535]

I wonder what the reason is for their own senders? Is it because OEM's used different values on their gauges, so what fit GM (for instance) wouldn't work with Mazda?

I know even within GM there are some different sender specs, so I would assume that would be part of it as well...instead of everyone calling in saying "your gauge doesn't work!" they simply eliminate that problem. Edit: Probably saves them all sorts of money by being able to sell/make one gauge for any application as well, instead of 50 diffrent gauges based on vehicle manufacturer, duh.

Would still seem to be a bit of a money maker if all you had to do was find the sending unit wire for the new gauge and splice into it. Not the way I'd do things, but there are plenty of people that would.

I found a gauge manufacturer that WILL build to your specs, but I haven't engaged them yet to see the price...I expect it will be prohibitive, thus why I asked here, hoping to find a ready-made solution.

I suspect I may have to make a connector of some sort to allow me to disconnect the existing coolant sender and connect that wire where I need it, so that the dash temp gauge then reads whatever I've got it hooked to.