because my stock temp gauge/sending unit is there for ornamental reasons only, i am putting an additional, more accurate temp gauge in. is there another port on the head that i can put the new senor in? i was thinking of using one of the senor port on the lower thermostat housing . any suggestions
additional temperature gauge sensor location
- Thread starter Christopher Fidler
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Yes, if you're desmogged, the port on the lower Tstat housing works well. I did that on my FJ40. I forget the adapter I had to use, but it was an Autometer for the mechanical gauge. The other option is use an upper radiator hose adapter.
I used a collar that plumbs into the upper radiator hose, the sensor just sits in the top. It's super easy to install, but I'm on the fence as to how accurate it is. As mentioned in similar threads, the head temp at the original sensor port will be different than the water temp at the radiator hose - and the aftermarket sensors will only work if they are completely submerged in coolant regardless of where you place it.
As per Jesper, I have used the collar in the top radiator hose, with the sender in that. I used a Redarc combo gauge, and assume it is perfectly accurate, and can't imagine that it would be much different to the stock location (in the thermostat housing - 12ht engine).
Any sender that is not submerged will read abnormally low (unless someone says I am wrong), so it should be as noticeable as an abnormally high reading....
Any sender that is not submerged will read abnormally low (unless someone says I am wrong), so it should be as noticeable as an abnormally high reading....
Ok recent thread so piling on. I want to add a mechanical gage to a 3FE 62. I see 5 sensors on the thermostat housings.
Upper: BVSV, cold start injector timer switch, and a single wire temp switch to ECU.
Lower: 2 wire sensor variable to the ECU, single wire variable sensor to dash gage.
The way I see it I need all of them. The BVSV is for carbon can purge. I'm otherwise desmogged. I want to keep the dash gage just because.
Never had one apart but soon. So I'll look at a new hole in the lower. Or tap into a bypass hose. This requires a custom T to get the sensor in the flow. Did similar on a VW diesel.
Anyone have a less PITA method? Head or block?
Thanks.
Upper: BVSV, cold start injector timer switch, and a single wire temp switch to ECU.
Lower: 2 wire sensor variable to the ECU, single wire variable sensor to dash gage.
The way I see it I need all of them. The BVSV is for carbon can purge. I'm otherwise desmogged. I want to keep the dash gage just because.
Never had one apart but soon. So I'll look at a new hole in the lower. Or tap into a bypass hose. This requires a custom T to get the sensor in the flow. Did similar on a VW diesel.
Anyone have a less PITA method? Head or block?
Thanks.
Did you ever find a solution for this? I can't seem to fit the sensor in the spot on the thermostat housing location. The gauge I bought has a sensor that is too long, and the adapter threads don't seem to work......
Just install a tee fitting for a mechanical gauge in the upper radiator hose & be done with it. There's no good way to do it in the lower thermostat housing.
When people are most interested in the coolant temperature is when the thermostat is wide open and everything is hot and the cabin gauge starts creeping upward. That, and when the temp gauge suddenly spikes to red.
A temp sensor mounted in the upper radiator hose will alert or calm you during either of those instances.
And the good thing about it is you can revert to how it was just by replacing the hose if it doesn't suit your fancy
When people are most interested in the coolant temperature is when the thermostat is wide open and everything is hot and the cabin gauge starts creeping upward. That, and when the temp gauge suddenly spikes to red.
A temp sensor mounted in the upper radiator hose will alert or calm you during either of those instances.
And the good thing about it is you can revert to how it was just by replacing the hose if it doesn't suit your fancy
Just put this one in. Perfect.
Thanks for the quick responses. What a pita...as I guess everyone knows, the hole in the top of the head is super shallow, and so is the hole in the thermostat housing. I put one of those new, short electrical sending units in the thermostat housing, but don't have a gauge to hook to the one wire set up...ugh. I guess I'll but a new upper hose and a T.
Get a short adapter, the long ones push the upper hose against the power steering reservoir.
@Spike Strip where did u place the digital readout or mech gauge in the cabin?
On the 'A' pillar with a 2-gauge pod. Driver's (LHD) side.