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MG MG Y Type - Installing a Water Temp Gauge

What is the recommended way to install a water temperature gauge? Can the temperature sending unit be placed in the hose between the radiator and the block?
MEL Lutz

I think he best place is before the thermostat where the fluid is at it's hottest.

I've seen thermostat elbows with a threaded hole in them that accepts the sender or a suitable adapter brazed into the elbow.

I've been planning to fit a temperature sender with a capillary sender, but failed thus far to find a suitable adapter for the elbow that I have that is threaded for a heater tab.
Willem van der Veer

I was given a digital temp gauge a while back, which I have put in recently.

I installed the sensor into a fitting mounted on the elbow between the head and the thermostat housing.

Taking account of the positive earth on the car, I wired it up back to front so to speak, but all I get is a reading of zero, which blinks on and off at times. Does anyone have any clues as to how to overcome this and get it to give a readout of temperature, other than changing the earthing on the car?

By the way, I'n missing the return elbow from the thermostat housing if anyone has one available, also the fitting for the hose to join into in the bottom hose.

Cheers
J B Turner

Might be better to install a thermostatic fan which cuts in at a preselected water temperature - I recently installed a Kenlowe thermostatic fan in my YB - works fine. I have sent a copy of how I did this to the Octagon Car Club Magazine (may be in next months issue?)and I think also Paul B. Installing a water temperature gauge is a bit tricky because it all depends on where you put the probe - Neil Cairns did an article on this topic at one time I believe.
D MULLEN

One of the extras that my YA arrived with was a temperature gauge. The picture shows that the probe is located in a purpose made steel block below the thermostat housing. It works very efficiently but I am afraid I have no idea where such a block can be obtained.
Peter
Picture on the way
P W Vielvoye

Picture

P W Vielvoye

I fitted a temp. gauge to Y7207, and threaded in to the elbow. however, I seem to recall paying an enormous price for a drill and tap which was large and an uncommon size. £60+ comes back to me in bad dreams.

Also the wall of the elbow is thin, and not flat of course, so the thread is minimal, and I always had a drip from it, even after application of silicone sealant.
As I sold the car, I've no idea if the drip sealed itself as I hoped it would.

See Picture.

Michael Nicholson

My temperature sensor is fitted in the header tank [image] it is to the right of the fan thermostat. The flange for the sensor is soft soldered into the brass tank whereas the thermostat is only clamped in a bracket and does not penetrate the tank. While on the subject it is simple to pressurise the system to 7lb by leading the overflow too, in my case an old MGB pressure tank. It will give some 10 degrees C more head room and make for a better heat exchange for the rad. seems to work well for me. By the way why not convert the electrics to -ve earth it solves a lot of compatability problems, the origanal ignition system is un affected by polarity. Bryan

B Mellem

I have installed temperature gauges in quite a few Y's over the years. I use electric gauges and place the sender in the left side of the elbow at the front of the head. The wire is run along the side of the rocker cover through a couple of P-clips on the air filter mounts (home market).

You need a 1/4" BSP taper tap, but these are pretty cheap if you hunt about. The thickness of the elbow varies, but I had never had a weep or stripped the thread - a bit of "Stag" also helps.

With the sender mounted in this location, you can monitor the engine temperature where it counts - just below the thermostat !. A sender or probe mounted anywhere else is a doubtful measure of engine health.

The gauge can be mounted on an extra panel below the dash, or even inside the glovebox - I had tried both. It only takes a few minutes to remove the dash mounted gauge for a "Concours" competition if you need to.

Back to the garage !.

A L SLATTERY

I stand to be corrected but I think that most radiator fan thermostats seem to be fitted in the radiator. I presume that manufactures dont think the sudden fluctuations in cylinder temperatures are important. I just look for the easy solution and the header tank location tells me if the fan should be on, [I have a manual overide if necessary] so far the indicated temperature very seldom reaches more than 95 deg. in fact it seems to hold this temp very well. Oil temperature I think is more important which can be noted from the indicated pressure. Bryan
B Mellem

By the way looking at my Ford 105e the gauge sensor is fitted to below the water stat but this car has a reverse flow coolent system, so it must indicate the temperature entering the block. Pick the bones out of that! Bryan
B Mellem

I'm planning to fit an electric fan to my Y Type. Could those of you with electric fans tell me how you have fixed the fan to the radiator. The plastic ties supplied with my fan are too thick to pass through the radiator core so I'm looking for an alternative fixing method.
Bill
W M (Bill) Bennett

Hi Bill I fitted a suction fan behind the rad which entailed removing the existing belt driven fan blades.
The mounting is on 1" angle aluminium rails top and bottom of the fan. These bolt to the radiator surround on either side and so are clear of the matrix [image] the upper rail is similar to the lower one illustrated. Hope this helps Bryan

B Mellem

Hi Bryan,
Excellent, just what I needed! Many thanks.
Bill.
W M (Bill) Bennett

This thread was discussed between 22/10/2013 and 01/11/2013

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