Oil temp gauge

[Tobi]

Does anybody here have an idea how high the oil temperature goes with the 2.0 FI motor under normal conditions?
I would like to ad a gauge and was wondering if a water temp gauge would work, going only up to 260F.
It is hard to find a gauge that has the same look as the original gauges.

[divace73]

Hi Tobi

The oil pressure gauge should be fairly easy to get your hands on, especially in the States, the older spiders came with a oil pressure gauge as did all the 124 coupes.
You will need the sender unit as well
Do a search on E bay and you will find them, you most probably pick up a complete dash with all the gauges for next to nothing.
I have a couple in my possession but the cost of freight would be prohibitive for that item to come from Australia (compared to what you can get locally)
Hope this helps

[manoa matt]

"Does anybody here have an idea how high the oil temperature goes with the 2.0 FI motor under normal conditions?"

I took a reading a few years ago on my 1800 with a laser thermometer pointed at the oil pan, can't remember what it was, but I would safely figure its within 20 deg +/- of the water temp.

Its been done before. The water temp gauge and sensor will work as an oil temp gauge and sensor. Only difference is the fluid. I can't remember who did it, but they opened the gauge and modified the faceplate so instead of a water symbol with wavey lines it had a small oil can.

If you have the altenator mounted above the oil filter there should be two ports, one for the low oil pressure warning light at the rear, and a brass plug on the front side. Move the oil pressure light switch to the front port and keep the wiring tight so it does not get caught in the alternator belt, and see if the temp sensor screws into the rear port.

I can check tonight if the sensor will screw in, as I have spare sensors and spare oil filter mounts, however the best place to locate the temp sensor would be at the oil pan. It may also screw into the oil pan drain hole.

[divace73]

I have done just that, I placed the gauge sender at the rear of the oil filter housing and the low oil switch sender in the front (just under the alternator)
I did remove my clock to mount the Gauge.
I orininally created a dash like the early spider but then I couldn't see either instrument as the sterring wheel blocked the view.
It was a fairly easy install, you have to run just 1 wire from the sender back to the gauge. Jumper the ground, lighting and maybe the low oil light from the other gauges.
A wiring diagram will be a great help.
Good luck with it

[Tobi]

Thank you Matt and David,
I did not now about the option of having another sender in front of the plate.
I also would like to install a oil pressure gauge and am thinking about getting an adapter plate from Miller's Mule and/or go straight through the oil pan with the temp sender.
I mainly want that oil temp so I know when my oil is warm so I can go for it and a 260 degree gauge could be enough I guess. How likely can the oil get to warm on these cars?
I don't worry about space on the dash because I will take out all the useless stuff in the center and build a new board. there used to be temp gauges that went up to 280 degree but they seem rare and they have hanging pointers. I was lucky enough to find a pressure gauge with the pointer up, I guess it is from a 1984 model.

[divace73]

Ahh I get it know, you want to measure oil temp...my mistake, i though it was pressure. You should be able to use the same water temp sender unit (it doesn't know what medium it is measuring) and water temp gauge. I really don't know the normal oil temp range, that may be in a manual somewhere? Maybe having in the sump would be a better idea as well.

I only push my car when the water temp is in the middle (if you know the fan has cycled twice then your ready to go). The oil temp should be up to spec by then.
You don't want to thrash your car with a cold engine.
I am a sucker for gauges, the more the merrier. I know where you're coming from, I much prefer all the gauges to look the same. I have that dilemma as I was a 02 gauge and none of them will have a 'classic' look.
I think the Fiat Dino came out with an Oil temp gauge that will be very similar if not the same as the 124, but may be hard to find.

[manoa matt]

Tobi,

The stock water temp sending units will not fit in the oil pressure sensor holes, or the pan drain plug. If you are getting that adapter made from Jason, just tell him what you want to do and he will make the sandwich plate with the appropriate threaded holes.

260 should be plenty, as the oil is usually around the same temp as the water...but takes longer to get up to that temp

[kilrwail]

Porsches have oil temperature gauges (as well as pressure), and a lot more oil since it is the primary cooling fluid, along with air. The normal operating range is 80-90 C (176-194 F), depending on the ambient temperature. When pushed hard on the track, it could reach 110 C (230 F). If it reaches 120 C (248 F), it's time to slow down and find out why. Oil boils at 250 F and you really don't want that. I hope this helps.

[vandor]

Hi Tobi,

I have made an oil temp gauge out of a water temp one, here is a pic:

http://www.italiancarclub.com/csaba/124oilt.html

I had a sticker made, so the text is correct. I may have one left if you'd be interested.
First I had this setup on a 1600 engine, and I was able to re-thread one of the sender holes to accept
a water temp sender. I later switched to a 2000, which has a different oil filter block, and it looks like
the it may be too weak to enlarge/rethread the hole. I may have a machine shop put an extra bead
of aluminum around the hole before I recut the thread.
If you also want to run a pressure gauge, you could put the temp sender in the front hole (comes plugged
from the factory) under the alternator, and use this splitter to use a gauge and light sender in the rear hole:

http://stores.auto-ricambi.net/-strse-1 ... Detail.bok

As far as temps go, normally oil temps should not go much above water temps, but on the highway they will rise and rise until the gauge is pegged (260F). I have talked to the Valvoline tech line, and they said if the pressure is fine to not worry about it.

[divace73]

Hi Vandor

Love what you have done with your gauges, something I always wanted to do, how hard was it getting the battery/voltage gauge?

I have talked to the Valvoline tech line, and they said if the pressure is fine to not worry about it.

Interesting that Valvoline said not to worry about the high oil temp? Ignorance is bliss without a gauge?, here in Oz it gets quite hot, today is around 40 degree C, I was contemplating on instaling an oil cooler.

While were on the topic of Gauges, has anybody actually checked out the units on the oil pressure gauge? (the gauge that has both units on it, one in yellow and white?) The Yellow is imperial in PSI pounds/square inch and the other????
You have to assume it is Metric, but it's not BAR not kilogram/cm2?.........can sombody post a pic, I still have to figure it out and learn how to do it.

Anyone, Bueller, Bueller, Bueller?

[RoyBatty]

Hi Vandor

I have talked to the Valvoline tech line, and they said if the pressure is fine to not worry about it.

Interesting that Valvoline said not to worry about the high oil temp? Ignorance is bliss without a gauge?, here in Oz it gets quite hot, today is around 40 degree C, I was contemplating on instaling an oil cooler.

While were on the topic of Gauges, has anybody actually checked out the units on the oil pressure gauge? (the gauge that has both units on it, one in yellow and white?) The Yellow is imperial in PSI pounds/square inch and the other????
You have to assume it is Metric, but it's not BAR not kilogram/cm2?.........can sombody post a pic, I still have to figure it out and learn how to do it.

Anyone, Bueller, Bueller, Bueller?

I was thinking along the same lines. I know from experience in aviation that oil temps below 180F do not cook out the crap (combustion by products and moisture) that gets left in the oil from running the engine.
Optimal temps are in the range of 200F. Start paying attention for trouble if it climbs thru 220F. At this point you should be taking action to cool the oil, lower the nose or open cowl flaps (we don't have these options). At 240 it's freak out time because the oil is now hot enough to break down and not do it's job (lubrication, and cooling and something about a film that prevents metal to metal contact) properly.
Now, to be fair, aviation oils may not have all the neat additives that automotive oils do, and so auto oils may be better suited to higher heat levels, I don't know. I am sure the synthetic blends are probably more tolerant in this concern.
Still, I'd prefer the oil temps to stay around 200F in my cars.

[kilrwail]

I have talked to the Valvoline tech line, and they said if the pressure is fine to not worry about it.

I don't know how my name became associated with this statement from Valvoline. I didn't talk to them and I don't agree with it.

[vandor]

Hi,

> how hard was it getting the battery/voltage gauge?

Not super easy. It is a temp gauge, but the guts are a volt gauge from a Lancia instrument cluster. One would think it would swap right in, but there were all kinds of hurdles. I did it years ago, so I do not remember exactly what was involved.
X1/9 one might work too, but it swings in the opposite direction, so it may be best for the later type gauges where the needle swings from the bottom.

>You have to assume it is Metric, but it's not BAR not kilogram/cm2?.

Since it looks like it is 10 times kg/cm², I bet it is Newtons per cm² (N/cm²). I think it's 9.8 Newtons in a Kg.
The difference is weight versus mass, it only really matters to physicists

[divace73]

I just did another search and think it could be ton/square meter..... 55 PSI is 38.668 826 806 ton/square meter

[divace73]

Hi Kilrwail
Do apologise for misquoting you, I attempted to do the cut and paste quote thing and that is how it turned out???? It was suppose to be Vandor...I'll attempt to edit it