Porsche
914 Oil Temperature Gauges
(Optional Center Console)
Some
1973-1976 Porsche® 914 models have an optional center console (part of the
"Appearance Package") containing three 60mm VDO gauges: a
clock, an oil temperature gauge and a voltage gauge. These center console
Porsche 914 gauges are unique. Although many other Porsche and VW vehicles offered
similar consoles, the VDO gauges used in these other cars are smaller, 52mm
units with slightly different appearances that will not fit the 914 center
console without modification. The 60mm 914 console gauges are no longer
produced by VDO or any other company.
As
with the dashboard gauges, the 1973 console gauges are slightly different than
the later gauges. The oil temperature scale on the temp gauge contained in the
1973 center consoles mirrors the differences to the "Temp" portion
of the combo gauge. The temp gauges are sealed units with glass lenses; the
mechanisms and gauge faces are accessible only by prying off the molded steel
bezel ring. Problems common to the Porsche 914 temp gauges are needle fading, bezel
ring rusting and lens fogging.
Current
eBay listings for Porsche
914 combo gauges (compare with items on this page to determine year and ensure authenticity):
The 1973
Porsche 914 oil temperature gauge, part number 914 641 118 20,
has a scale with a large red alert area, but it is totally
unmarked. Assuming that this
scale mirrors that of the 1973 2.0 combo gauges, the range begins at 60
degrees Celsius; the redline begins at 156.7 degrees Celsius (it's a
Porsche gauge, so it is exact), and the redline terminates at 200
degrees Celsius (your engine would likely be on fire at this
temperature).
The 1974-1976
Porsche 914 temp gauge, part number 914 641 118 30,
has an unmarked scale with a smaller red alert area. Assuming that this
scale mirrors that of the 1974-1976 2.0 combo gauges, the range begins
at 30 degrees Celsius, and the redline, still beginning at 156.7 degrees
Celsius, has shrunk and terminates at 170 degrees Celsius (at which
point your engine would be seized, but not actually burning).
Porsche
914/6 production ended in 1972,
so the optional three gauge console (available in 1973) was never
offered in this model.