Engine temp alarm and monitoring solutions with IOS OBD apps

[casioqv]

For an overlanding vehicle, I like to have continuous monitoring with settable alarms and logging of everything that could potentially leave one stranded: engine temp, coolant level, oil pressure, tire pressure, alternator output, etc.

When I had an android phone, I was able to set alarms and logging with Torque connected to my OBDLink device, but now that I have an iPhone, it seems that none of the apps have settable alarms- not the OBDLink app, OBD Fusion, etc.

I'd prefer not to have to buy a dedicated expensive electrical device like the Engine Watchdog, or have to carry two phones. Does anyone have a solution for this that works with an iPhone?

 

[casioqv]

Quite a few online come up with search, try this

Thanks! My issue is that I am looking for warnings that run in the background *in addition* to displaying the data in a useful and meaningful way, so I will still get a notification if something goes out of range, even if I don't have the app up, or if I don't notice the gauge quickly enough.

I don't want "extremist" warnings- but very conservative ones. For example, if the engine temp is safe anywhere below say 120C, but in practice always stays below 100C, I will set an alarm at 105C, so I know "this is hotter than usual" long before its actually overheating.

Not breaking down and getting stranded is arguably the most important thing in overlanding- and the earlier warning you can get that something isn't quite right, the better- and you can't always trust that you will be checking gauges every few seconds when you might be exhausted, distracted, or busy dealing with other issues. I'd rather have a false warning every week or so, rather than know too late that the engine is already damaged.

It appears that of the ones you mentioned, Carista, which I hadn't heard of, does offer background monitoring with settable alarms. Unfortunately, it seems to lose the actual gauge outputs and custom dashboards that OBDLink has, which I also need. I wonder if both can run simultaneously from the same adapter.

 

[ExpoMike]

Why don't you pick up a used Android phone, using just the bluetooth and run the app you want. You can download them via wifi so you don't need any cellular plan. Then you have a dedicated system and get what you want, at a low cost.

 

[casioqv]

Why don't you pick up a used Android phone, using just the bluetooth and run the app you want. You can download them via wifi so you don't need any cellular plan. Then you have a dedicated system and get what you want, at a low cost.

Not a bad idea- I already have a few good quality older android phones without service laying around. I would prefer to just have it all on one phone and be able to use it from Apple Carplay, but that seems weirdly not possible.

The fact is Torque on Android is massively better than any of the iOS apps, and good quality dongles are also half the price without the apple certification.