Installing oil temp guage....where to tap??

[mustg5]

Any suggestions on where to tap my oil temp guage?? I thought about doing it on the oil filter housing....like removing the oil pressure switch, and threading it into there.....my oil pressure guage is tapped to where the old oil pressure guage sending unit was. So i figure i will just thread the oil temp sender into where the pressure switch is....any suggestions??

 

[BUCK]

I think there's an used port at the front of the Head by the Turbo Oil Feed Port. I'd install a "T" before I eliminated the Oil Pressure Switch - OR - there may be an unused blanked Port on your Oil filter Housing - Those Allen Plugs are Loctited in but with a little heat from a torch they pop loose - It's best to have the OFH off to do that & by the time you did that you might as well swap to an Air to Oil Cooler capable OFH if you haven't already.

BTW - If you are still running the Water to Oil Cooler that Oil Pressure Switch will SAVE YOUR ASS if you spit an Oil Filter Gasket like I did soon after purchase.

 

[mustg5]

thanks for the info.....i do have an air to oil cooler on it and an air to oil cooler filter housing, there are like 2 or 3 additional plugs (those allen ones)....i can just use those, is that what there their for???

 

[BUCK]

Any Port will certainly give you an Oil Temp - WHICH PORT is the question - It would be really kinda essential to know whether the Oil temp is post-cooler or pre-cooler to have a good idea what's REALLY going on...

I repeat - those plugs are Loctited in place - It takes a burst of heat from a Torch & a GOOD Allen wrench for them to snap free - Best done with OFH removed - which BTW would enable you to tell which port comes from where...

 

[PaulPDX]

Browse the net for AN fittings. I picked up a fitting with dual AN -6 fittings (one at each end) and the body of the fitting itself has a 1/8 NPT hole where you can screw on a sensor. I'm using it for the electronic oil pressure sensor for my SPA temp/pressure gauge.

If your temp sensor isn't too long (the probe itself, you might be able to use a fitting like this to mount the sensor. If it's too long it might protrude too long into the fitting and restrict flow.

I don't know how the 2G filter mount is, but I just installed a 90 filter mount in my 91 so I can run an ext. cooler. I removed one of the allen plugs and installed the temp sensor there... unfortunately this took away the port for the stock pressure sensor so right now my pressure gauge in the instrument cluster doesn't do anything. One option you might consider... if there aren't any available ports is to drill and tap a new hole. 1/8" NPT should be the standard for sensors.

 

[mustg5]

do you know what size the fittings are in the oil filter housing
?? Are they 6AN fittings??.....also, i am putting an oil temp and oil pressure guage in, so i can just remove the stock oil pressure sender right, no need for that anymore?? BUCK....your saying to keep the idiot light though, makes sense.....thanks for all ur help guys

 

[PaulPDX]

The housing does not have -6 AN fittings. You'll need to get adapters I think and I don't remember the exact fitment. I will have to dig up my receipts to be sure... will get back to you on that.

Since you'll have aftermarket gauge(s) taking over the monitoring duties... I suppose it really isn't important to keep the stock on working. I would have preferred otherwise but it just worked out that way and I don't have much of a choie.

Definitely keep the idiot light... that way if the gauge(s) malfunction... you'll at least have that to warn you before things are way too late.

 

[98TsiAWD]

You are gonna want an oil temp sensor close to the oil pickup. The moroso oil pan has a bung welded on it.

 

[PaulPDX]

It's also well over $300? close to $400?

Don't get me wrong... I'd love to get one, baffled and all. But that I'll have to wait for quite a long time unless my fortunes change... sigh.

mustg5,

Here's the information on the adapter...

It's a -6 AN to 16mm-1.5 Power Steering adapter. Summit part number is EAR-991955. It's a Earl's product.

AN fittings aren't cheap... especially if you buy from Jeg's or Summit who charges a $8 handling fee on every order. Kind of a rip-off, but I guess the shipping guys need to be paide.

There is a guy online who sells B stock fittings at a much more reasonable price. The site is http://fittingsguy.com He selection is not the best and he doesn't really have any adapters. But you stand to save a lot on fittings (if he has the size you want).

Oh... almost forgot, Earl's also has a the inline -6 AN fitting I mentioned with the 1/8 NPT port. They also have a fitting that has the same thread as the allen plugs on the housing but is hallowed out with 1/8 NPT.

 

[Groomz]

Originally posted by PaulPDX

It's a -6 AN to 16mm-1.5 Power Steering adapter. Summit part number is EAR-991955. It's a Earl's product.
Oh... almost forgot, Earl's also has a the inline -6 AN fitting I mentioned with the 1/8 NTP port. They also have a fitting that has the same thread as the allen plugs on the housing but is hallowed out with 1/8 NTP.

Just to be sure, the allen plug is 16mm and the adapter turns it into a -6AN fitting with a 1/8NTP port? All you would need to do is then thread it in there and attach the gauge?

 

[PaulPDX]

Originally posted by Groomz
Just to be sure, the allen plug is 16mm and the adapter turns it into a -6AN fitting with a 1/8NTP port? All you would need to do is then thread it in there and attach the gauge?

There are actually two adapaters.

One adapter has -6 AN thread at one end, and 16 mm-1.5 thread on the other, which is the threading on the exit and entry ports of the oil filter mount I got... it's a '90 model mitsu part... I have the part number if anyone wants it. It is also the same thread on the ports of the automatic tranny cooler I am using as an ext. oil cooler. I imagine the stock oil cooler has the same size ports (just different mounting location, tranny cooler mounts infront of the radiator). This adapter is a Earl's brand part and is anodized blue.

The other adapter is one that has the same thread as the allen plug, and I think it is the same thread count as the 16 mm thread above. Except this adapter is hollow. The interior passage is threaded with 1/8 NPT. Most sensor probes are 1/8 NPT (pipe thread). This part is made of brass. Looks like brass anyway. Come to think of it... it's basically a bung.

Use teflon tape on the threads to prevent leaking.

Summit has both adapters. So does Jeg's. Both charge $8 handling fee per each order on top of your shipping fees. So it can add up. On the plus side, if it's your first time ordering from Summit, they will issue a $20 credit coupon on your receipt which you can use towards your next order.

 

[mustg5]

thanks for all the help, we need more DSMers like you....i appreciate everything.....thanks man

 

[PaulPDX]

No problem and good luck. I envy you 2G'ers. So many options for gauge cups and bezels. I'm still trying to decide what best to do about mounting my gauges...

 

[Groomz]

Originally posted by PaulPDX
No problem and good luck. I envy you 2G'ers. So many options for gauge cups and bezels. I'm still trying to decide what best to do about mounting my gauges...

Funny, most of the gauge mounting options I want are only for 1Gs. I do miss my 1G so.

Thanks for the info PaulPDX.

 

[Suparata]

The 16x1.5 mm ports are for the external air/oil cooler and I believe that -6AN lines are too small . -8AN are better and -10AN are probably best for an external cooler or a relocated oil filter. Take a look at the difference in size between the PWR Steering Cooler (-6AN) and the Engine Oil Cooler (-10AN).
A good place to install an oil temp sensor is where the Allen plug (3/8") is on the unfiltered gallery of the oil filter housing. That will give you the oil temp immediately after it has been picked up from the oil pan and before cooling. If you want to see what kind of effect the cooler has you can use an inline AN adaptor which has an extra port for a sensor.
What ever you do keep the stupid light operational because it can save your engine.
Mitch.