Oil Temperature Sender - which one?

[blackglasspirate]

So this is going to be a no-brainer for most people here, but I'm a little slow and overwhelmed with van projects at the moment so my brain isn't working right.

I want to install an oil temp sensor but am unsure if I can just use any 1/8 NPT or m10 1.0 sensor out there? I'm going to install it in place of the oil pressure sensor at the back on the engine. If anyone can point me in the right direction on what sensor to get, I would appreciate it!


Overall I'm thinking of doing the RJE kit for the pressure sender and sensor relocation, then basic VDO gauges, and the Brickwerks gauge pod that T3 technique has.
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'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[blackglasspirate]

No takers? Anyone that has an oil temp sensor that wants to tell me which one they're running?
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[satchmo]

With the idea of killing as many birds as possible with one stone, I went with the temp sender that fits in the pressure release valve plug sold by GoWesty:

https://www.gowesty.com/product/mechanical/24654/oil-pressure-relief-plug?v=

https://www.gowesty.com/product/electrical/22241/oil-temp-sender

I also installed the RJE oil pressure sender manifold you are considering.

With GoWesty set up:

1) I did not have to mess with the oil pressure sender behind the pulley - just disconnected the wire and left the sender in place. I installed a new pressure sender in the RJE manifold.

2) I was able to eliminate that awful slotted plug for the oil pressure relief valve

3) I got to inspect the oil pressure relief valve/piston and spring

I'm not going to argue the oil pressure relief plug is the ideal place to measure oil temp, but it is good enough to give me an idea of trends.

Good luck, Satchmo

[blackglasspirate]

Great - thanks for the info! I was just looking at VDO's site and realized there's only one 1/8 NPT sensor for 300F, which is what the gauge I got is. Turns out it's the same one you just linked to that GoWesty sells, so I guess it will work. Now I have to decide whether or not to install it where you did with the plug or mess with the location behind the water pump pulley.
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[wesitarz]

I used a M18 x1.5 from CIP1 for my Subaru 2.5L. Perfect fit + no tapping
https://www.cip1.ca/searchresults.asp?Search=oil+temp+sender

[mikemtnbike]

The sandwich adaptor plate from Glowshift that vanagain sells with their oil pressure kit has ports for oil temp too- if you want a very easy install, could just order their adaptor plate and temp gauge.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[blackglasspirate]

[MarkWard]

You can't drill and tap the sandwich adapter for the sender. Any sender should match the gauge. If you check Summit Racing or Pegasus Racing, you can get an line temp sensor fitting that you could plumb into your lines.

[blackglasspirate]

One concern I had, and this shows my ignorance in the matter, was that the VDO sender is much longer (internal side ) than the stock pressure sender, so I was afraid of it hitting something internally or of something hitting it when running. Is that even a valid concern or is there plenty of space internally for the sender?
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[MarkWard]

That's a valid concern. I'm not sure if there is a side port that needs to be uncovered. You'd have to have a bare case and do some searching.

The oil pressure switch port next to the crank is a terrible location even for a idiot light. One broken fan belt and there goes the sensor wiring.

Search for inline oil temp sensors to see what's out there. You could do 2 sensors, one on each side of the cooler and see how much heat is actually being shed.

[blackglasspirate]

For now I was hoping to keep it simple just because this was a last minute addition to the already long list of repairs I am finding myself in the middle of, so I think putting it in the original OP location is the way to go and then I can look into more options, such as inline, later when I have more time. Really I just wanted a pressure gauge but had room for one other so decided to do the temp.

Anyway, I spoke with Rocky Jennings and he said VDO 323-056 is the sensor to use. You remove the reducer that's in the stock location and it fits right in. I saw that Chris Corkins did the same thing with the same sensor in one of his posts. So that seems to be the way to go for now. Thanks everyone for the help.
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee