1981 Oil Temp Gauge
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,125
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
1981 Oil Temp Gauge
Just a quick question, I've had my 81 for a couple of months now, just signed up on the forum a few days ago and have a questions. The car runs fine and I've put 1,500 miles on it in that time, but the oil pressure gauge has never worked. I had the car checked out by a corvette specilty shop here in KC and made sure the oil pressure was fine when I bought the car, never had any issues. Today I noticed the oil temp gauge went up significantly, not in the red zone but close yet the engine temp stayed at 190 degrees and it ran like a top. Oil level is fine. Would the engine temp not increase as well or could this just be another old gauge failing. What do I look for?
Your thoughts?
Your thoughts?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
you will need this
Oil temp sensor is right above the oil filter
Pressure sensor is right behind the distributor
Pull the wire off the sensor and ground it and the gauge shoulg peg to the right. Open and it should stay to the left.
If the gauge does nothing, check for voltage, should be something less than battery voltage (key on, engine off)
Test the sensore with ohm meter, I'll have to look to se what the values are
Oil temp sensor is right above the oil filter
Pressure sensor is right behind the distributor
Pull the wire off the sensor and ground it and the gauge shoulg peg to the right. Open and it should stay to the left.
If the gauge does nothing, check for voltage, should be something less than battery voltage (key on, engine off)
Test the sensore with ohm meter, I'll have to look to se what the values are
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,125
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
81 Oil Temp Gauge
Yea, I tried the sending unit when I had the oil pressure checked when I bought the car, did not help. The guy doing the work said it was the gauge and wanted to charge $150 for a new one. I can get one through a supplier much cheaper and it does not look like a tough install.
I'm probably going to need to replace the oil temp gauge as well. When I started the car this morning it pegged instantly and then started to swing all over the place as I drove it. I'm going to check the sending unit first and make sure it's the gauge.
I'm probably going to need to replace the oil temp gauge as well. When I started the car this morning it pegged instantly and then started to swing all over the place as I drove it. I'm going to check the sending unit first and make sure it's the gauge.
