Oil Temp or Oil Pressure Gauge?

[86FJNJ]

I see RPM sells separate oil temperature and oil pressure gauges. Curious if anyone is running one and why? With the FJ being air cooled and me getting caught at some longer stoplights having the temp gauge would offer some entertainment but I'm not sure it adds much value. Where as the pressure gauge would alert me to an issue if the oil system failed but I'm not sure if that Should even be a concern, I'm not sure I've heard of people blowing their engines because the oil pump failed.

Curious on the groups thoughts since I'm not aware of a gauge that shows both oil temp and pressure so seems like have to pick.

[Pat Conlon]

Between the two I would opt for an oil temp gauge, not to be worried about high oil temps but to watch when my cold oil temp gets to the 180° safe zone before I start hammering on my engine.

I find it amazing how long I have to ride on the street before my oil properly warms up.

I lived 40 years in the low desert and I can imagine my summer oil temps exceeding 280-300°, but as long as I have air flow over the engine, all is well. It's the 117° days with stop and go traffic that's alarming.

Oil pressure is not an issue. The racers have found FJ 2 stage oil pump system to be remarkably robust. HSR has a supplemental oil line kit for the FJ engine that adds more oil volume to the cams. Broken cams from heat distortion seems to be a problem with the racers, but that's cooling airflow related, not oil related. 

[Millietant]

I wouldn't bother with either - FJ's don't fail due to overheating their oil, or due to oil pressure issues (pump failures).

If you fit one, it will only get you needlessly worried about the numbers you're reading from time to time.

I can imaging for some high level racers and for legend race cars, then there could be some merit in monitoring those, but on a street bike, just don't give yourself something else to worry about needlessly.

[86FJNJ]

Thanks for the input!

[red]

86FJNJ,

If I had to choose, I'd want to see oil temps, but I probably would have both, or neither.  At idle, FJ oil pressures can get to 10 PSI or maybe less, and most riders will panic over such low numbers.  It was always like that, but they just never knew.  Pat gives you good advice above, about oil temps.
Still, it's your call there.

[Pat Conlon]

Yea....Dean brings up a good point, why the needless worry? I have to agree.


I think a TPMS would be more practical for safety reasons.
To be alerted to a slow leak could save you some excitement while at freeway speed.

[Bozo]

Good topic, some years ago I had the gear ident lever changed to a stronger version. I didn't notice that during clutch hub assembly the oil pump gear dogs were not engaged correctly (my excuse - my kawasaki's use a direct gear drive).

After a long ride the hub spun disengaging the oil pump gear dogs once in a blue moon causing my bike to seize, if only I had a pressure gauge all would've been avoided.

Lesson learnt never again.

[Old Rider]

I have installed a oil temp gauge.Most for fun and keep an eye if engine is overheating for some reason. It has an alarm beep that can be set .I set my at 110degree Celsius very very rarely it make the alarm go off even in hot summerdays.
The gauge readings goes up to 150 degree so oil temps seldom goes over that i think.
I have the sensor mounted in the oilcooler witch is a separate oilway out of the 2 way oilpump. after or before a ride it shows ambient temps because the oilcooler then is emty.On these picks from yesterday the the bike has idled for about 2 minutes and temp is only 88 .It takes very long time before engine reach
operating temps

[86FJNJ]

Thanks Old Rider, I have a slight paranoia that my engine might get too hot so I recently added the RPM oil cooler kit to help keep that under control a bit better than stock. With it being 95 degrees F here in NJ through the next month or so I was thinking seeing oil temps might be nice but based on group feedback and Pat's experience in Arizona I guess that is not a concern as long as I'm moving. I go get stuck at the occasional long light for a couple mins but that's about it. So with the group saying oil/engine temp and oil pressure is not an issue so I'll prob not proceed with that....

...might be time to stop upgrading the FJ and start saving up for next bike, I'd really like a modern sport tourer or adv bike like Vstrom 1050 (or maybe 800), Yamaha Tracer 9 or Triumph Tiger 900, something sporty with enough grunt and comfort for easy 2up riding and room for side luggage but still enough handling ability I can enjoy a spirited ride on my own, 95% on road with the occasional dirt road...something I can pick up used but clean with plenty of life left for under $10k...if anyone in the group has any two cents on such bikes I'm open to it, or maybe I should start a separate thread for that feedback.

[Bones]

I live in Queensland Australia where we get hot summers and Christmas time when all the toy runs start is at the start of the summer season. Toy runs are usually first/second gear affairs for miles and where the engine gets that hot from no airflow you can feel the heat burning your legs and see smoke emanating from it.

Worried about possible damage I fitted an oil temp gauge to monitor it and have seen temps in the years gone by around the 135deg Centigrade mark, I've been assured that the engine won't be harmed at those temps because race cars running these engines run hotter than that without any problems.

Normal temps while cruising sit around the 80deg C mark and as Pat has said it take s quite a while from cold to get up to normal temps before giving it the beans. Thats probably the reason why the majority of bikes don't have oil temp gauges fitted because owners would probably panic seeing temperatures that high.