Rodbr Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Gents, Not a major issue but within a few minutes after start up the fuel gauge gets a thin film of condensation on the inside of the lens, This disappears after 5-10 minutes. Gauges were rebuilt prior to installation and the sender unit checked and seemed OK if a bit unrealistic/optimistic, ok just wrong, at times during driving. Should I be worried, what should I check? BR Rod Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billy l Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Hi Rod, Mine does the same, been doing it since I've owned the car (20 years) seems to be when the weather starts to cool down. I'm not worried about it Gauge works fine. Probably needs sealing. Cheers, Bill. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvark Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Rod. If it happens when you have the lights on then changing to leds will cure it. The heat from the bulbs is the reason..... and leds are far better too. A win win situation. Cheers Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barkerwilliams Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Rod, Gauge warms in use and "pressurises" the internal air which vents to atmosphere. As Gauge cools it draws air in which contains moisture which eventually condenses out on the internals. After many cycles the volume of moisture in the gauge has increased and is noticeable. After the car has been running for a few minutes and the electrical internals have warmed and driven off any moisture the glass is still cold and it condenses out. I find that after perhaps 20 minutes of running the glass has also warmed and cleared. The gauge could be dried with a silica gel packet but moisture would reappear after the car had been used a number of times. Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Hi Rod, the misting may also happen without the lights on. The gauge works on a heated element so will always produce some heat. Warm moist air inside or outside the gauge contacting the cold glass causes the problem. Change the glass to Perspex should sort it but will look wrong. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Mine does the same, I put it down to a small amount of moisture trapped inside, which when in use is heated by the two coils. Rogers gauge is different in not having coils, but a heated strip, but the effect is the same. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 All part of the classic driving experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 All part of the classic driving experience. having the gauges mist up saves the driver becoming misty eyed with the experience Roger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Hi Rod, to help remove the mist place your thumb on the gauge glass for a minute or two to help it warm up. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeF Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 A tony dob of washing up liquid wiped on the inside will keep the glass clear looking by preventing the moisture from beading. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rhino_mac Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Mine does it too. Only happens at night and it disappears within a few minutes of having the panel lights on Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Hi Richard, the lighting will help as it will warm the glass up quicker. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Harris Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Mine has allways done it too,I often wondered why only the fuel gauge but it dries out after a short time and is all good Graham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodbr Posted September 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Thanks gents, All part of the TR driving experience Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marc R Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Hi Richard, the lighting will help as it will warm the glass up quicker. Roger End this is an advantage compare to the LED... Regards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greasemonkey Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 I recall that misting in the fuel gauge happened on Apollo 13 as well! At least in the film anyway! And the needle stuck too - maybe they used Smiths gauges, Phil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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