I see condensation in the gauges (water and oil).
Should I be concerned?
How to resolve?
Some may say otherwise, with my experience with original smiths gauges this has happened from time to time
for thirty odd years with no lasting issues, no rusting etc .
My garage is relatively well ventilated so no rusting tools etc .
I am aware that you can get packaging crystals that can be used to keep moisture out, I have never actually bought any of this stuff as I used to remove the sachets from the boxes that contained engineering equipment for
free.
The other way of dealing with moisture was to leave a saucer of salt in strategic places, I've never really had any real issues with moisture but either of these solutions can't do any harm .
Chris.
In damp weather and in winter, we get condensation, more like misting up, on some of the gauges when we're out for a drive, but not when the car is in the garage. Garage is nothing special, single skin brick with flat roof.
You didn't say if this when you car is in a garage or out driving?
Regards, Don
Thanks for your replies!
It happens driving out but in dry day.
Also I think it started recently, not sure why.
Well, that is odd. Are they Smiths or ETB gauges? If ETB, may be worth asking them, I've always found John at ETB very helpful.
Regards, Don
No, Smith and Stuart Warner gauges, both get condensation. S.W.30 year old gauges and they work fine and no rust. My car is stored in a garage with good air flow. Its the temperature variation as do get with double glazing. I would not be concerned its a character of an open top car.
I have not yet noticed it on my ETB gauges yet to see any condensation.
Easiest way is to drive with your side lights on. The heat from the instrument bulbs will dry the moisture out.
Quote from: Dek on Nov 15, 2025, 06:02 PMEasiest way is to drive with your side lights on. The heat from the instrument bulbs will dry the moisture out.
That would also be a method for myself as I only use the standard tungsten filament type, may not work with
LED's due to minimum warmth ?
LED's are good and use them for quite a good few applications especially around the house.
I personally can't see the point with LED's for instrument bulbs (although very easy to change too) for our type of vehicles, over many years I can just about count on one hand how many replacement bulbs I have used and that includes my daily drivers .
Led's are fantastic on push bike lights compared to the old tungsten's, they light up unlite roads perfectly and the
battery life isn't bad even with non re-chargables .
My views on LEDS's .
Chris.
Same problem of condensation in gauges, when driving out- whatever season, worse in winter
Ventilation hole strategically placed may benefit, but where? And will it make water ingress worse.
Think the gauge glass' are glass. Not plastic- will check
Maybe a weeny hole through the retaining bezel
No doubt will just put up with it- or create an overide switch for the instrument panel deleting the sidelights