AutoMeter Oil Temp Capillary Tube - Replacement?

[crypt0zink]

My old non-electrical Sport-Comp oil temp gauge isn't working after an engine install. I haven't touched the gauge, but the capillary line has seen a bunch of abuse over the years.

If there a replacement line or do I have to buy a new AutoMeter oil temp gauge?

I've Googled and searched multiple vendors with little result.

Thanks

[Charlie Schmidt]

They can be repaired, but it's pricey. Money ahead to buy new.

[Steve Demeter]

I had countless of them fail. The tubes are simply kind of fragile. Now have electric gages. Not to bad mouth Autometer, just the nature of the beast.

[Bob L.]

Mechanical/capillary temp. gauges are relative easy to fix. I found a great site years ago for 33 Plymouths covering replacing the capillary...

https://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge

Seems, most are use ether at saturation conditions... get a "cheap" gauge, freeze the bulb to condense fluid into it, cut tubing close to the gauge, and solder new to old (get brass tubing to make a sleeve at hobby shop), with temp bulb staying cold, to keep fluid in it. Once done, try out...you'll be surprised. I found the donor at Harbor Freight (also at Pep boys...). Any small amt. of "air" that gets into the system, doesn't hurt, it just sort of servers as a "filler" in system, real pressure-temp is from PV of ether at saturation...

I've done 4 or 5 Smiths with good results... Of course if the needle is messed up/bent, might not calibrate right...but...

Give it a try...not much to loose. Think you'll be pleased.

Bob L.

[pooch776]

Caution, ether is highly flammable. It is a gas at room temperature. It is also an anesthetic.

Cheers, Joe

[Bob L.]

Caution, ether is highly flammable. It is a gas at room temperature. It is also an anesthetic.

Cheers, Joe

True...yet, no worse than starting fluid.

Keeping bulb in the ice keeps ether there too (sure don't want to loose any or you'll not get results hoped). Do all your soldering with an iron, not a torch....

use sense!

Bob L.

[DaveW]

The gauge itself is just a pressure gauge calibrated to measure the vapor pressure of the fluid in the bulb and convert it to temperature. So losing a very small amount, as long as there is enough fluid left to vaporize at the highest temperature you want to read, will make no difference in the pressure, or as a result, the reading.

[crypt0zink]

I found the donor at Harbor Freight (also at Pep boys...).
Give it a try...not much to loose. Think you'll be pleased.

Bob, is this the cheap HF gauge?
https://www.harborfreight.com/automo...set-41017.html

[Bob L.]

Doesn't look right ... says electric... you want mechanical... think one I found in store was just temp...not a set of 3. Made quick look on that site...didn't see one...

try this?

https://www.pepboys.com/bosch-style-...635?quantity=1

21 bucks... didn't confirm bulb...but says it's mechanical... sure others have something similar...

Bob L.

edit: web ad had 20% off, so closer to 17 bucks...