The temperature gauge on my brick often requires a tap on the dash to get it to work.

There is a small bit of info in the FAQ about taking the cluster out and oiling it. Is it obvious where/how to oil it once the cluster if off? I was planning on using a few drops of turbine oil once I figure where to put it.
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Paul NW Indiana '89 740 Turbo 140,000

I put a few drops of oil behind the gauge face where it goes through the faceplate and where it begins to touch the electical winding on the other side. Been working fine for a few weeks now.

The zoomspout oiler works great since it allows a precise ammount of oil to be used and can be strategically placed.

I will post back with some pics since I kind of need to redo most of the work. Some of the oil dripped though to the faceplate side and needs cleaned off. The turbo gauge bezel came loose and I didn't get repositioned right so it lets light through the crack when the headlights are on. Cosmetic corrections that annoy me...

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Paul NW Indiana '89 740 Turbo 140,000

My 1988 740 wagon with 201,000 miles on it does the same thing. Almost every morning I have to tap it. Then it is good thru the day. Not that big of a deal to do and I've been having to do so just about every morning for over a year now. I do actually have a spare dash with a temp gauge in it. Was just recently thinking of replacing "bad" temp gauge one with spare one. However if oiling it works then I would try that. Please post back on what you end up doing and how it works out. Thanks.
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' 88 740GLE auto wagon nearly 195,000 and ' 87 240DL auto sedan nearly 135,000

I remember oiling a grandfather clock with some 3 in 1. It was too thick. Switched to sewing machine oil..
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Post Back. That's whats makes this forum work.

I do not know anything about oiling gauges, but a "few drops of turbine oil" sounds like a very large volume for a gauge.

I do not know what turbine oil is but I would think you would not use something that had a high viscosity.

Years ago when clocks were mechanical rather than electronic they were cleaned and oiled with a feather that had been brushed with kerosene.

Randy

Turbine oil is the the stuff that is supposed to be used for electric motors that have oil ports.

I use Zoom Spout Oiler .
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Paul NW Indiana '89 740 Turbo 140,000

The turbine oil apparently has no detergent. I figure that prevents foaming when the parts are spinning at high speed. My heating installer told me to use such oil for the boiler - hot water radiator heat here - at my place, if I understood him correctly. Turbine oil that I have is light and light-colored oil with a long narrow flexible dispensing tube. Easy to measure out a small dose.