Dakota Digital Fuel Gauge Question

[MARSHMELLOWS]

Does anyone have the Dakota Digital fuel gauge? The color of the gauge readout appears similar to the digital radio in my 02' I've contacted Dakota and was told: The gauge resolution for the 30 PSI sender (which has a decimal point), is in . 2 incriments. Do you think that will be to sensative for my needs?



I was also told the sending unit is compatable with diesel fuel too.



ONE CONCERN- The light (blue) readout intensity cannot be lowered, except when the truck lights are turned on (a dim mode is activated). A rheostat can't be used. My fear is the gauge will be to bright at night. I plan to install the fuel pressure gauge on the steering column, and don't want to have an overly bright gauge in my face.



I had a Dakota gauge about 10+ years ago, and it was 'red' and EXTREMELY bright at night. I was also told the lens has been improved with a scratch resistant plastic too. Comments and Opinions appreciated. Jim

 

[Sticks]

I am interested in hearing some more about these gauges too. Brightness is a big concern with me also. I prefer to drive at night with all of the dash lights as dim as possible.

ONE CONCERN- The light (blue) readout intensity cannot be lowered, except when the truck lights are turned on (a dim mode is activated). A rheostat can't be used. My fear is the gauge will be to bright at night. I plan to install the fuel pressure gauge on the steering column, and don't want to have an overly bright gauge in my face.

Are you concerned that the dim mode will still be too bright with the lights on?

 

[Johnny5]

I was worried about it being to bright and it didn't bother me one bit, the numbers don't jump out at you like you'd think, the only thing with these gauges is the description at the bottom seems a little on the brite side altho that maybe cause it is out in the open, you will get used to it. The color they call it is teal if I remember correctly. As for . 2 increment that is fine, matter of fact I don't even recall what mine is, iI thought it was . 1 but I'm sure I got the same 30psi sender which mean . 2 increment



Hope this helps,

Johnny5

 

[MARSHMELLOWS]

RESPONSE TO sticks and Johnny5

sticks - Yes, I too am concerned about the brighness for night driving. Having the fuel pressure on a steering column pod, if too bright, would be a real bummer for me.



Johnny5 - Thanks for the help !!! Speaking of digital, do you have any pictures you can post? So, if the Dakota color is "teal", is it "similar" to our digital radio color , or different (I see my digital radio as being more blue in color)? What is the range of fluxuation on your fuel gauge(s) when you bury your foot in it? How do you like them? Any other comments on the overall quality or features of the Dakota gauges would be appreciated.



Since my Cummins is a 6-spd, I don't need a trans temp gauge. Besides the Dakota fuel gauge, I anticipate I'll buy a SPA EGT/BOOST to mount on the pillar. However, I'd like to see your install before I do anything.

 

[dieselshu]

Dakota Digital FP gauge

I mounted mine in the useless cubby below the airbag switch. I bought the blue thinking it would be closer in color but was wrong. The teal resembles the factory lighting alot better. When wiring it up do not hook up display lights on the front of the gauge, they are not needed. Being mine is mounted in the cubby it does not bother me at night being that distance from me, but if it is directly in front of you it might get annoying. I do like the quick response of the gauge.

I used a banjo fitting with 90 deg aeroquip mj-mp adapter p/n 2501-4 at the inlet of the VP44 and ran 4797-4 S/S aeroquip hose fittings on 1. 6 ft of 2556-4 hose to a double female needle valve (Napa p/n 6800)with straight adapter mj-mp p/n 2404-4 on one end and the sending unit on the other mounted with some foam and rubber stripping wrap and wire clamped to a hole in the dipstick tube bracket just behind the F/O bowl. I have had it since first week of October with ZERO problems. Very simple.



David

 

[MARSHMELLOWS]

Dshuart

PRIMO RESPONSE !!!! TEAL instead of BLUE, wow that's good insight... Your suggestion to ". . not hook up display lights on the front of the gauge, (because) they are not needed" has me curious for more info . Your gauge location in the "cubby" and related comment about brighness has got me thinking about my steering column location. Perhaps a gauge front cover (like sunglasses) might reduce the brightness. Thanks again for the valuable information.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Gauge brightness has always been a problem with the high beam and low fuel indicators. Seemed to be able to bore a hole in your retinas.



My fix, go to an auto glass shop, ask for a piece of tinting and then cut circle pieces etc. Take those pieces and put them on the instrument panel over the spots they light and hey... no more problem with the retinas.



The same thing could be done with the gauges... and my after market radio... now where is that piece of tinting?

 

[Johnny5]

I am wonder too about "don't hookup up the display lights in the front" cause I only had a power and a dim connection. If you are refering to the description at the botton of the gauge I would thik the gauge hase to be taken apart to do that or the tinting or a black pc of tape would work.



Marsh, I do have pics if you need just tell me how you want them sent. I do want to let you now that originally I was gonna get SPA gauges but the backgrounds were to brite fo me (either red or green) plus I was kind looking for a stock apperance. The SPAs are nice and packed with features and the 2 in 1 would save on space but I went with all Dakota's and just use one DPDT to go from pre fuel/trans to post fuel/trans



Johnny5

 

[dieselshu]

Dakota FP guage

Johhny, Marsh, For the display lighting I mean the dim, the lights as you know Johnny are located on the front of the display inset in the face plate frame, if you hook them up these they will shine white light on the display, not needed imo... .



DavidOo.

 

[Big White Beast]

Gave it my best shot.......

With the camera that is. Just went out and shot a pic with the lights off then on. Unfortunately the camera wouldn't focus well and the pictures were too blurry to tell the difference.



Here is an older pic to see what it looks like. I have mine mounted in a cup under the dash. It moves a lot with the throttle so I wouldn't want to be looking at it all the time on my dash. In my opinion its for the occasional glance to make sure the pumps are running. If you hook the light power to it make sure you don't dim them too much. It needs close to 12V of power to operate. I believe they said it would operate all the way down to 8V but don't take my word for it. If you wanted it dim all the time you could jumper the gauge power to the dim ckt.



Garrett







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[mikel]

I mounted mine almost exactly like Big White Beast did and run mine dim all the time and it is still bright enough to see in the daytime unless the sun is hitting it directly.



IMHO it would be too bright on the column even when dimmed for me.



Good luck,

Mike

 

[Johnny5]

David,

I wonder if we got different gauges cause I have no lighting in the face plate frame. I got mine late last year. The pic below shows what I see at night with all the connections made and dim activated



Johnny

 

[dieselshu]

Dakota Digital FP gauge

My gauge is square(rectangular) P/N ODY-10-1 30 PSI Blue display, black bezel(frame) It has what Odyssey call Night dimming with lens label lighting, when I hooked up my dim connection the only thing it dimmed was the label light, two small yellow/green lights mounted in the bezel facing the gauge lens.

I will shoot a photo when I get a chance to borrows friend camera.



Legend

 

[Big White Beast]

Dshuart.....

Sorry for jumping on you in the other thread. I assumed you were talking about the same gauge I had. My bad.



I knew DD made square gauges I thought they would be the same lighting wise.



Garrett

 

[dieselshu]

Dakota Digital FP gauge

Garrett, Not a problem, Its sometimes hard to understand what someone is writing especially when they dont go into detail... . or it could be that you are from California? :--) No just kidding



DavidOo.

 

[Big White Beast]

Yeah, but I'm a transplant..........

I do not subscribe to the whacked out liberal thinking in this state.



I'm just here for the weather!!



Garrett