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Oil Temp gauge
hpnotch - March 21st, 2015 at 05:21 PM

Hi everyone
I am thinking about installing an oil temp gauge in my notch, but I am not sure how i would attach the sender unit.
I have heard that the oil pressure relief plug is a good spot - what and where is it?
The other option is fit it to the oil drain cover - are these sold with an additional threaded slot to take the sending unit?
Or is this more trouble than it's worth?
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Lo-tech - April 13th, 2015 at 01:59 AM

I've used a dipstick sender in the Kombi for years - no drilling the case, and works fine. Keep your original dipstick for spot-on oil level readings, however. No experience with other methods, but the plug for the pressure relief plunger is a coin-sized disc with a big screwdriver slot in it. Get under your engine and you'll see two of them, left-hand side of case, one @ flywheel end, one @ pulley end. One's a relief plunger (pulley end), the other one's a pressure control plunger (flywheel end). I haven't bothered with an oil temp gauge in my Type 3, but if I did a lot of highway work in it, I'd be tempted. If it saves your engine once by warning you when to back off the throttle on a 44C day, it's more than paid for itself.

adlbeetle66 - April 13th, 2015 at 07:59 AM

Use a sump plug sender. The most accurate of them all. Simply pull out your old sump plug and put in this one! The dipstick is only at one end of the engine whereas the sump plug is at the bottom so it gets a constant reading.

Joel - April 13th, 2015 at 08:02 AM

Either dipstick as mentioned or relief valve plug.

Quote:
Originally posted by adlbeetle66
Use a sump plug sender. The most accurate of them all..


actually they are one of the worst spots.
Drain plug senders are problematic, they hang down susceptible to damage, they have to be a special shallow sender to suit vws or they crush the bottom of the strainer over the oil pickup tube and they read low and not accurate.
they are not accurate because the road draft underneath has a cooling effect on the sender and gives a low reading, has been shown to be upto 35c off compared to other locations.

Relief valve is on the lower left like so

http://www.vw-resource.com/images/temp_sender.jpg

hpnotch - April 13th, 2015 at 08:41 AM

Thanks to everyone for the advice - much appreciated.
I have purchased a sender unit from Mick motors so I am assuming it's a shallow type. They had suggested the sump plug position, and it does seem a simple job to perform. i am not too concerned about accuracy - I've been told most gauges do not not accurately reflect engine temp - but they are beneficial as a sudden fluctuation in temp would indicate a problem.

However, I agree oil relief position does seem more secure.

Do you know if the sender I bought can fit in either position - or are different units (with different threads) required ?

adlbeetle66 - April 13th, 2015 at 08:43 AM

I bought mine from Micks too.
VDO ?
I was going to ask the same question, if the relief position is more secure can you use the same one?

Joel?

Joel - April 13th, 2015 at 09:02 AM

Different thread unfortunately, drain plug is M14, relief valve plug is M18

adlbeetle66 - April 13th, 2015 at 09:08 AM

Oh. Can you get one specially for the relief then?

matberry - April 13th, 2015 at 09:09 AM

There is an adapter available from CB (I have some in stock at present) that uses the sump plug in the oil pressure sender location (adapts both senders into one hole), I find it a good way to utilize the old sender in a much better/more accurate reading location

adlbeetle66 - April 13th, 2015 at 09:10 AM

How much do you charge for them Matt?

On here or email :)

donn - April 13th, 2015 at 10:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by adlbeetle66
How much do you charge for them Matt?

On here or email :)


On here please or PM, watching with interest

hpnotch - April 13th, 2015 at 11:24 AM

X3 Thanks Matt

matberry - April 13th, 2015 at 02:54 PM

Oh!!
Looks like I only have one left and it's spoken for on the job presently in, sorry about that. I'll be getting more or maybe Vintage or RPR have them ???

CB part # 2355 if you want to go look for them

hpnotch - April 13th, 2015 at 04:19 PM

No problem! - thanks for the earlier advice.

d3wy - April 13th, 2015 at 11:29 PM

Will this (Ebay Link - VDO Oil Temp Sender 300F/150C M18 X 1.5 # V323-064) work in the releive valve location?

adlbeetle66 - April 14th, 2015 at 08:02 AM

Yes, that will work as it is an M 18 thread. Great find there :tu:

d3wy - April 14th, 2015 at 09:03 PM

Any one have any Suggestions for a decent guage to pair with the sensor I linked above?

And it says it's an oil sender, therefore my understanding is temp and pressure, will it support both features or just one?

adlbeetle66 - April 14th, 2015 at 09:04 PM

Im using SAAS gauges, but there is Auto Meter, and many other trusted brands out there.

Joel - April 14th, 2015 at 09:53 PM

I would stick with VDO gauges, the likelyhood of finding a different brand gauge with that same Ohm range aren't good but if you do mix and match do the boiling water test with it first so you can get an idea of how accurate it is.

hpnotch - June 10th, 2015 at 02:22 PM

OK - I have now got myself another sender with the M18 thread to suit the relief valve location.
I read here http://www.vw-resource.com/oiling_system.html that it is important to replace the plug at the relief valve not the pressure control valve.
Can someone please confirm that correct plug to replace is at the fan end of the type 3 motor?
Are there any tricks to removing the plug - should I drain the motor first? (otherwise if I remove with a full load of oil will oil pour from the plug?)
thanks in advance

Blue65 - April 25th, 2016 at 12:17 AM

Has anyone used the oil temperature gauge from savemybug.com

http://savemybug.com/about.htm 

It looks simple and straight forward to install