Skip Wolfe

Forgive the aftermarket gauage rookie question, but I got my drain plug oil temp sensor and I have no idea how this would be wired to a gauge. I haven't bought a gauge yet, and maybe it would be clearer after I got the gauage but I was wondering if anyone could explain this or has a picture.

JDeitz951

You need some uninsulated 1/4" female spade terminal lugs. Crimp one onto the end of a wire and slip the lug over the round thing on the end of the sensor. Then somehow get the wire through the firewall and to the gauge, which usually also connect using the same lugs. The gauge also reqires +12 VDC and a ground wire.

Ian Carr

the way the gauge works is it is sensitive to how good the ground is. That sensor that you have the warmer it gets the better ground it gets. in turn the warmer the oil the more it grounds the hotter your gauge reads . You will have 3 or 4 wires coming from your gauge, one of the wires will go to a female connector that slides over the flat part of the sensor.

-Ian

JDeitz951

Here's a link to the instuctions from VDO

http://www.sso-usa.com/performance/T...icalGauges.pdf

35thSLP

here are some pics from eGauges VDO Guage installation instructions:

brad-cam

Skip - sorry about that - I was thinking of putting instructions in every box with those senders but got overwhelmed. Thanks guys for supplying all the detail here !!

35thSLP

One more pic from the link above...

Skip Wolfe

I guess what I am looking for is the actual physical connection to the sensor itself. I was thinking that it would be an actual threaded terminal and not just a round flat end. Does a female spade connetion fit onto the top?

JDeitz951

Yes! Would I lie? I could lie...on my back, that is, and take a picture of mine which I installed last Friday.

Skip Wolfe

A picture would be great - thanks Deitz.

JDeitz951

OK - interior pics from a few days ago - sender pic from tonight in pitch black with a little lucky aiming.

JDeitz951

It looks like very heavy wire but it's not. I used 18 gage wire and slipped 3 or 4 feet of hard nylon vacuum tubing over it to protect it from heat and chaffing. I ran it forward from the sender and parallel to the OP sender wire up the front of the engine, then along the fuel ran and into the rubber boot with the DME wires (just like my boost tubing).

DanG

This picture might help too...



From here...
http://www.42draftdesigns.com/tempsender.htm

testarossa_td

Now that shot says it all

JDeitz951

Follow the link, it's not just you , Skip!

"At first glance it seems nothing will connect to the head of the sender"