Dual gauge
From the official options part list
Victoria is granted some extra features that were optional at her time, but are still 100% genuineSold as an optional equipment,
the genuine Land Rover Dual Gauge displays both
engine oil pressure and coolant temperature.
Let's be clear: it is not of a big use, as the Land
Rover engines are under stressed units which never
overheat, even used stationary in the hottest areas.
The oil pressure is not supposed to vary much
neither: a factory standard oil pressure switch
lights a green dashlight up to alert in case of a
sudden drop oil pressure anyway.
It is worth mentioning that the
reading of the Dual Gauge is like with any other
precision tool made in the UK: to be taken with
great pragmatism. It is not rare that the values are
absolutely not relevant, but because it looks so
neat, it is anyway a nice add-on in a Series
interior.
The way it operates is also of
interest: the temperature level is transmitted from
the engine block to the reading gauge through an
approx. 150cm long capillary tubing with ether in
it. The engine's heat warming up the gas, would
inflate its volume and, consequently, make the
indicator move. Simple physics once again. Oil
pressure level is also a direct read, using a fat
150cm flexible pipe that brings some oil all the way
up to the interior dash, locally measuring the
pressure.
These elements are demonstrating
how the things have evolved since the 60's: from
mechanical to electrical... till today fully
electronical.
More pictures below.
