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Oil Pressure/Temp Gauge Retrofit
I want to install oil pressure and temp gauges in my Previa. I have found at least 2 places where this can be achieved. The first is where the factory oil pressure sender unit is screwed in at the bottom of the engine, which has a M10x1.0 thread pitch. The other option (my preference) is a larger plug in the oil pump near the RH engine mount that takes an 8mm allen head to remove. I pulled one from a junkyard van and have determined the threads are M16x1.25 on that one. Here's a picture of the plug in question:
Most aftermarket senders are 1/8" NPT. Ideally what I'd like to do is run a stainless steel braided hose from this port to somewhere out of the way, then attach an oil pressure distribution block with standard fittings for oil pressure and oil temp senders, and then run their wiring through the firewall to attach to the gauges. So far, I've only been able to find hoses with M16x1.5 fittings, and one company that could create custom hose fittings, but that's probably $$$. Anyone looked into doing this before? Maybe I need to search through the MR2 and Supra forums, since they are more likely to have done this mod, and they probably share similarly sized ports. I could also use an adapter to go from the M16x1.25 to something more standard, but again the challenge is finding such a thing.
If I can't make the larger port work, I could use the M10x1.0 port of the factory OP sender, run a hose off to another out-of-the-way location, and get a 3-way distro block for installing the factory OP sender and aftermarket OP and OT senders. I have read some posts that seem to indicate that doing this will give inaccurate temp readings, presumably because the oil might cool some in the hose as opposed to take a reading directly at the block, so I may have to use a different location for the temp sender.
Last ditch solution would be to interface with the oil drain plug, but it's so low that I'd rather not have anything else sticking out of there, even a hose end to run to a higher location. What do you guys think? Thanks, Eric.
Last edited by batook; 03-27-2012 at 10:41 PM.
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Re: Oil Pressure/Temp Gauge Retrofit
Thanks Tim...boy do I love your work-arounds! I completely tore down the engine from my 91 Auto that I replaced with a JDM and have all its component parts in a box in my shed, so I have an oil pan handy already to install the oil temp sender into. Your idea to cut the threads of a 3/8" MPT down to M16x1.25 is also a great idea, and should be a lot more economically viable than trying to find something already that size (proving hard to do) or having one made for me. Now I just need to decide on what gauges I want and get the senders. Ideally, I'd like a 3-gauge mini-cluster that I could mount above the factory one that includes OP, OT, and tach. I'll see what I can dig up online. Thanks again! Eric.
PS: What die handle do you recommend? I've tried some in the past that I wasn't very happy with (not enough leverage to apply enough force to turn it or the die would slip out of the center). Even the tap handles I've used performed worse than just clamping a tap with vise grips... (maybe I need to stop shopping at Harbor Freight and Lowes, at least for this kind of thing!)
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Re: Oil Pressure/Temp Gauge Retrofit
I'm not sure about the handles. My handles & holders were purchased about 25 years ago when I was a machinist. I got the quality stuff like SPI from special order catalogs. That was then, not sure how or where to get the stuff now. Good luck. Tim
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Re: Oil Pressure/Temp Gauge Retrofit
Gotcha. I'll look into professional tool suppliers like Snap-On and Matco for this, since it's clear I need something of a LOT higher quality than I've been able to find off the shelf. Eric
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Re: Oil Pressure/Temp Gauge Retrofit
That's really cool. Perhaps I'll go the sandwich route with my 89 van. This way I can keep the idiot light and have the gauge as well. Tim
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Re: Oil Pressure/Temp Gauge Retrofit
Sorry for the resurrection!!!
I've been going over the next projects for my van. My idea was to do a filter relocation, and I came about people doing oil coolers. Then I was thinking I want to keep track of the oil pressure and temp.
When it comes to electrical stuff, I dont know squat. So this thread is a good idea.
Great info Tim! I'll probably have to go out and find an oil pan and drill it out for the sensor.
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