Where to install an oil temp sending unit?

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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Feb 14, 2007
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I just got my oil temp gauge, and I'm trying to figure out where is the best place to install the sending unit. I know there are a couple of plugs on the oil filter/cooling assembly, but which one do I need to use? Also, does anyone know the thread of those plugs? I'd like to have all necessary adapters when I get ready to install the gauge.
 

MAXLLY

No Lemming Here
Aug 15, 2007
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I took the factory cooler apart... I can't memmer what is provided at the cooler, unfortunatley the pump is with my truck, 1.5 hours North of me.:(

I thought i memmer several fitting that feed the squirters... in the side of the block. Take one out and convert it to AN or NPT.

Here is another idea... may be easier given the location of the cooler and the oil lines, just tap one you can find and slide this in.

http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/752574/10002/-1

I spose you need to determine if you want it pre or post cooling and what the plan is for the long run.

If i was you i would tap/monitor it at the hottest point, post turbo IMO.
 

Turbotug

BEER SLAYER
Sep 3, 2006
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I have mine in the filter housing reading HOT oil temps. I'll get you a pic in a few. IIRC, I just used a 1/2NPT-1/4NPT adapter. There was mention of the threads being BSP threads (or something), but mine haven't leaked a drop since installed over two years ago..
 

Turbotug

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Tried to get a pic, but you can't really see it...

If you remove the fender liner and look at the filter housing, it's large one on the top. IIRC, it has a 10mm Allen head, and they are TIGHT!

I posted some pics on DP about it somewhere, look around. If you run across any TxC's post he tries to get you to measure temps AFTER the OE cooler, so his location is different.


edit: Fingers has some good pics of the filter housing off of the engine that might help..
 
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JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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Thanks Brandon. I found your posts on DP and saw your pics. I'd like to get temps after the cooler because I'd like to see what temp the oil is at the squirters, but if I can't find a good spot to get that, I'll use the one on top of the filter/cooler housing.
 

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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Feb 14, 2007
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Cool, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
 

Killerbee

Got Honey?
wow, that thread sure brought back some disturbing memories.

I noticed all my posts were all deleted, how confusing. Yet the attacks are all intact with quotes. :rofl:

I will say, the school of thought that you only need to know what the temp of the oil is after the cooler, was invented by a man who didn't have an interest in you knowing how hot your oil got. Who would go to all of the trouble to install a sensor and gauge where you would find oil in it's healthiest state.

You may as well put an icecube in your childs mouth before you take his temperature with the household thermometer.

However I understand your intentions, albeit most limited in value. The squirter are not always on, FWIW.
 

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
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My thoughts on "pre" versus "post" cooler oil temp monitoring:

A cooler in a system reduces heat by a percentage, it will drop more heat the hotter it gets, and less heat the cooler it is. So what you get with post cooler readings is a narrower data range of essentially the same data.

If you want to collect data about engine oil temp, having it pre-cooler will give your data more resolution. Post cooler would be handy only if you already had pre-cooler numbers and were checking cooler efficiency.

Knowing what temp the oil is after it has been exposed to the hot points in the engine, tells you how close you are to hurting the engine.

Let's say the oil going into the galleries is 200 deg, but coming out of the pan it is 300. This is not the same as the oil going into the galleries at 200 and coming out at 250.
 

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
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www.mcratracing.com
wow, that thread sure brought back some disturbing memories.

I noticed all my posts were all deleted, how confusing. Yet the attacks are all intact with quotes. :rofl:

I will say, the school of thought that you only need to know what the temp of the oil is after the cooler, was invented by a man who didn't have an interest in you knowing how hot your oil got. Who would go to all of the trouble to install a sensor and gauge where you would find oil in it's healthiest state.

You may as well put an icecube in your childs mouth before you take his temperature with the household thermometer.

However I understand your intentions, albeit most limited in value. The squirter are not always on, FWIW.

I read that thread and get the jist that it was more important to permit one sided attacks in a tech thread, than to actually present good info. Very sad.
 

MAXLLY

No Lemming Here
Aug 15, 2007
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Never saw the posts? Sorry they didn't stay true... good, bad, ugly or unbiased its part of the record.

On another note- having my truck running again affords me a different perspective on oil temp.

IMO- the only place, the most dangerous place for the oil, is post turbo. Not sure i care about oil temp anyplace else. I'm gonna install a "T" into my drainline so the sensor sits in the down stream path. I wanna know how hot it is in the worst case scenario.