At one time VDO had a switch that included a sensor for each cylinder and a
rotary switch to read them individually.  Prolly not out of the realm of
possibility to rig something like that up if that's what melts your butter.

DM&FS
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Schmitz <djs@gene.com>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: Cylinder head gauge

>Adam,
>
>I have one of these on my '82. It's a VDO, and senses the temp of the
>cylinder head at the spark plug hole. On a scale of 0 - 600 degs F, I think
>the needle needs to go no higher than 300 degs. F.
>
>My experience has been that normal operating temps range from 200 - 250
>deg. F. My slightly modified 2.1L runs cooler than its stock counterpart
>used to, and this probably has to do with a slightly too rich mixture to
>attempt to improve driveability (gas mileage is also a bit less than
>stock).
>
>But the temp reading is more of a way to gauge relative temperatures during
>operation, as well as to detect when you are running too lean. One
>disadvantage of this type of gauge is that it measures temp in only one
>place. If you have a lean condition that is cylinder-specific, and it's
>affecting the cylinder with the sensor attached to it, you will not really
>know about it. The cylinder head temp sensor is good for monitoring general
>lean conditions, however.
>
>Dan
>
>Puzerewski wrote:
>
>> I have a cylinder head temp gauge on my 81, and would like to know what
>> range of temps I should know to be normal.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Adam Puzerewski
>> 81 westy
>> 74 beetle
>> 86 cabrio
>> Vanagon Partsmobiles