Gauge Installation Questions

[Kittah]

Hey guys,

Just scored an awesome deal on some Auto Meter gauges (oil temperature, pressure and water temperature) and I'm looking into fitting them to my Levin BZ-G. Pretty sure I've got it figured out, but I thought I'd run it by you guys just in case

The temperature gauges seem pretty straightforward; I just plug the temperature sensors into the appropriate adapters: oil sandwich plate for oil temperature and radiator hose adapter for the water temperature.

The oil pressure gauge is where I'm not so sure - am I correct in thinking that I just need to plug the line from the gauge into the sandwich plate also? I'm just confused because one of the instructions mentions an oil pressure sensor out of the sandwich plate, but I'm guessing that's only necessary for electronic gauges?

Cheers guys

[allencr]

The oil pressure gauge is where I'm not so sure - am I correct in thinking that I just need to plug the line from the gauge into the sandwich plate also? I'm just confused because one of the instructions mentions an oil pressure sensor out of the sandwich plate, but I'm guessing that's only necessary for electronic gauges?

If the plate has a small port, or even a large one, that's what it's there for, temp and/or pressure. IIRC, one had a major design problem with the installed sensor obstructing the flow.

[touge_ae101]

i was always under the impression the oil temp you are more concerned about is the temp in the sump. this way you know when the oil pump is picking up that is too hot - rather than measuring oil that has already circulated a bit?

oil pressure can be taken from where the std sensor is, behind PS bracket, just put a Tee in so you can keep both the warning light and the gauge

[Alex B]

i was always under the impression the oil temp you are more concerned about is the temp in the sump. this way you know when the oil pump is picking up that is too hot - rather than measuring oil that has already circulated a bit?

oil pressure can be taken from where the std sensor is, behind PS bracket, just put a Tee in so you can keep both the warning light and the gauge

Yeah but don't just attach a brass Tee, i found this out the hard way.

[Quirky]

Dont they make sump bolts with temperature reading things on it.
Then you just wire it in to the existing gauge, seems like an easier way of doing it.

[Kittah]

oil pressure can be taken from where the std sensor is, behind PS bracket, just put a Tee in so you can keep both the warning light and the gauge

Taking a look at it, being behind the power steering bracket makes it look like a complete pain in the ass to get to?

Yeah but don't just attach a brass Tee, i found this out the hard way.

Oh?


On a water temperature note, I thought I might apply the above advice in the same way to the factory sensor at the base (top? ) of the bottom radiator hose - any issues with making a T off this?

Thanks for the input guys, totally appreciated - obviously want to make as tidy a job of this as possible

[allencr]

On a water temperature note, I thought I might apply the above advice in the same way to the factory sensor at the base (top? ) of the bottom radiator hose - any issues with making a T off this?

Are you sure that is where the factory temp gauge reads from, and not the fan switch?

[touge_ae101]

On a water temperature note, I thought I might apply the above advice in the same way to the factory sensor at the base (top? ) of the bottom radiator hose - any issues with making a T off this?

Are you sure that is where the factory temp gauge reads from, and not the fan switch?

yup that def where the factory guage reads from.

Taking a look at it, being behind the power steering bracket makes it look like a complete pain in the buttocks to get to?

mine fits in there perfect, only have to worry bout taking it off once. i put a short rubber hose on my tee to bring it out through the hole in the centre of the PS bracket and cut it short then cable tied the sender to the bracket. then the factory gauge sticks out the side

yeah it'd pay not to use brass. doesn't like viabrations.

[touge_ae101]

Dont they make sump bolts with temperature reading things on it.

i think if you do a search on this there has got a good discussion as to where the best place to put it is. bottom of the sump is not necessarily the most accurate reading.

iirc the best place is about a 1/3rd up from the bottom of the sump. this accounts for the drop in oil level once the engine gets going.

not that much of a job to take the sump off and weld a nut in the side.

but also you can always tell when the oil is getting hot from the pressure gauge. on my old engine i used to take note it was getting to hot when it wouldn't get above 60psi at redline. lol.

[Kittah]

mine fits in there perfect, only have to worry bout taking it off once. i put a short rubber hose on my tee to bring it out through the hole in the centre of the PS bracket and cut it short then cable tied the sender to the bracket. then the factory gauge sticks out the side

So basically I just don't want a brass junction running straight out of the engine block, i.e. it pays to have something flexible between the block and the junction point?

[touge_ae101]

hmm yeah lil bit of rubber would help but TBH if i was doing it again i would stay away from brass altogether its just not worth risking. hopefully it will be one of the things i tidy up when i finish my oil cooler.