Oil Temp Factory gauge inop. Time for upgrade?

[JohnB]

My oil temp factory gauge just went inop. It was repaired once, but it needs to be replaced now. Anyone got a spare one hanging around they want to sell? 

 

If I can't find a replacement factory gauge, It might be time for me to upgrade to a digital primary system which was on my next to upgrade list. The JPI 900 or EI - MVP 50 are the ones i'm looking at. I already have a JPI 830, and I like the font better on the JPI, but I like the screen options better on the EI. However when I look at the manual, the EI has 10 mandatory written warnings at the start of their manual which say it needs to be in the aircraft, and all 10 of them say that you should not use the MVP to determine the amount of fuel in your aircraft for 10 different reasons. WT? If its primary, isnt it supposed to be reliable to detect fuel quantity?

Also, GPS calculation fix issues, (something ive seen on other manufacturers) [soap box mode on] Theres seems to always be a calculation for fuel or time to next waypoint and alarms you can set if you dont have 45 minutes of fuel to get to the next waypoint. Fuel to destination to me would be additional helpful information if the wind changes significantly from forecast. Why can't this be changed to estimate fuel remaining at destination, which would more relevant than calculating fuel remaining at WIMPE or any other intersection you might be flying to? Suppose theres no airport between WIMPE and your destination and your 45 minute alarm goes off in between?  I know the shadin fuel flow analyzer will do fuel at destination, but most everything else (including a GTN) doesnt that I've figured out, other than filing direct everywhere which is a clearance I rarely get.  Does the MVP -50 allow you to modify it so it calculates fuel at destination rather than at next waypoint?  I think the JPI 900 does, well at least from my reading will at least calculate time to empty, and also estimate time to destination and you can easily figure out reserve with those two numbers.  I get the feeling that this is not a software programming problem (should be easy for any software to figure this out) , but a legal one, in that if an instrument told you you had 45 minutes of fuel left to destination and you relied on that, than the company would be somewhat liable if you only actually had 25. Maybe that's why the EI MVP-50 instrument has so many disclaimers in its front pages. Ok. [soap box mode off]

 

Ok that last GPS bit was digressing, sorry ...Anyway, i was planning on replacing my analog gauges LATER if I do a G500, so anyone with a spare oil temp gauge for sale lying around would be very helpful. Otherwise, Ill be the one with a spare JPI 830 and lots of spare working factory gauges around which apparently the Mooney factory isn't making anymore. ...

 

 

 

Edited October 16, 2017 by JohnB

[carusoam]

The thermistor sensor may have gone bad...

It is a temperature sensitive resistor.

A classic sensor vs. gauge problem.

If you go with a new JPI, you may still be stuck with a worn out sensor.

Of course if the JPI comes with a new sensor, you won't know the old one was broken... 

The oilT gauge in the picture looks like it is working. Is this the before picture?

 

Best regards,

-a-

[JohnB]

1 minute ago, carusoam said:

The thermistor sensor may have gone bad...

It is a temperature sensitive resistor.

A classic sensor vs. gauge problem.

If you go with a new JPI, you may still be stuck with a worn out sensor.

Of course if the JPI comes with a new sensor, you won't know the old one was broken... 

Best regards,

-a-

That's a great thought Caruso! I didn't specifically ask my mechanic to check that, ll have my mechanic check it if not already done, and if it's just a sensor, which i realize sometimes you just have to buy and see if it works, thats a lot less $$ than any of the other options.

[carusoam]

There is a recent thread around here of somebody troubleshooting and replacing that sensor...

It included the price for the part from Aircraft Spruce I believe...

Best regards,

-a-

[JohnB]

Just now, carusoam said:

There is a recent thread around here of somebody troubleshooting and replacing that sensor...

It included the price for the part from Aircraft Spruce I believe...

Best regards,

-a-

Looking!! As just looked through my email, they did try to order a probe, but that is not currently available from mooney. Ill check the board!

[carusoam]

I expect that sensor to be resident on a lot of Lycoming engines...

A Lycoming supplier may be a better source for that part.

Best regards,

-a-

[JohnB]

Good news! My mechanics (LASAR) checked the probe and its fine, they found the oil temp gauge needle to be sticky, so a little lubing up and its good to go. Whew. So no need for replacement at this time which works out for me. (Im gonna upgrade one day soon as these gauges/ probes seem to be in a constant state of how long until it fails mode and are becoming less and less available) Thanks for the tips Caruso!