Anybody else miss having a temperature gauge and tachometer?

I have a Scan Gauge III on mine, all the gages I need.
I'll take a picture when I think of it.

 

If it doesn't, reach out to Linear Logic. They've upgraded mine to work on a new car for just the price to ship it to them.

 

I like all, tach can show the rpm settling down according to pedal input. On the Volt I could hear the rpm drop down like at 65 by managing the gas pedal, but also had no tach except using a scan gauge. The Prius engine runs quiet at low speeds in my experience and I like to know a number.

 

I had a SGII for quite a while, a workaround that filled the gap, until it’s constant weight on the OBD port started triggering Check Hybrid System warnings, coupled with brake warning lights and work-to-rule brakes.

Using a Scangauge for coolant temp is similar to owners who cobble solutions for the missing temp spare tires. The manufacturers will reinstate stuff, but only with complaints or declining sales. Workarounds just enable these deletes to perpetuate, till no one remembers the stuff we used to have.

 

I use a scan gauge 2 I bought in 2009, there will be cheaper phone apps, if you have an old cell phone or tablet.

ScanGauge - SG2 II Ultra Compact 3-in-1 Automotive Computer with Customizable Real-Time Fuel Economy Digital Gauges , Black , 5 Inch https://a.co/d/az1tgqU

 

Some 20+ years ago a Mercury Sable died on me when the engine overheated around 80k miles. In hindsight, I wish it had a digital gauge for coolant temp that could have warned me of an overheating engine. When I got my Prius in 2008, I decided to get the SGII and it helped me immensely. At 160k miles, the SG2 warned me about codes P1116 and P1150. With the help of gurus like Patrick Wong and JC91006 in this forum was able to change both water pumps and I have been able to take care of every error code that has appeared thus far. The car has 240k miles and it still averages 50 mpg. While I wait for my 2023 Prime, a part of me wishes I could enter my old faithful in the 300K club

 

A firmware update might fix that.

What percent of drivers would pay enough attention to a temperature gauge to take action before the warning light comes on? Many models do still have them.

Should the Prius have two temperature displays for both coolant loops, or is toggling between them fine? While we are at it, let's bring back the display and manual controls for oil pressure and ignition timing.

 

I find my ScanGauge2 tach display to be an interesting indicator of road slope, headwind strength, and pavement roughness. Though unfortunately, all of them rolled into just a single indication.

 

i can't remember the last car i've had with a temp gauge. it has definitely been awhile

 

Our 06 civic hybrid had temp gauge. And a spare.

 

I find my P10 gauge more useful for monitoring the thermal cycling on the engine coolant temperature. It can be quite dramatic and quick especially when the ac forces the radiator fans to run continuously.

I suspect old school coolant passage clogging is a thing of the past except for self inflicted head gasket sealers. At that point a rebuilt engine is in someone's future.

It seems what is needed is a huge sign popping up with the warning light suggesting "your engine is toast if you don't shut down in the next two minutes". As is, most driver's worry more about the tpms light (which is often mistaken as engine related) than a never before seen coolant warning.

 

I have also had a ScanGauge II in my Prius for about 10 years now. Provides me some nice extra data like RPM, water temp, instantaneous fuel economy (since the Gen 3 only shows this in bar chart format ) and so on. Also nice for reading trouble codes.

 

Since the Prius v (and I suspect all Prius) only has a digital on/off oil pressure sensor, adding more gauges won't give you oil pressure.readings.

 

I was convinced I'd never drive a vehicle with a CVT transmission as well, but I don't miss the shifting, whether manual or auto, one little bit! Pretty much feel the same way about the gauges. Would I look at them if it had them, of course, but it wouldn't affect anything I do with my driving at all.