Oil Temp Gauge
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 178
Likes: 34
From: Calgary Alberta
I have the same problem with my '81. It's a pretty simple circuit as best I can tell and is either the sender (most likely) or the gauge itself. With mine the gauge needle went to maximum temp and stayed there. I was able to disconnect the wire and get the needle to sweep so I'm pretty confident it's the sender for me (just waiting on the part).
The sender is right above your oil filter and has a single wire connector running to it. The only downside is the sender is a fairly expensive part ($75).
The sender is right above your oil filter and has a single wire connector running to it. The only downside is the sender is a fairly expensive part ($75).
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 178
Likes: 34
From: Calgary Alberta
Could certainly be a problem at the printed circuit or the gauge. That part is a bit more of a pain to get to.
The sender is a piece of cake. If your slim you might be able to make it without lifting the car. I needed to jack up the driver's front wheel a few inches to squeeze under (because I love cheeseburgers). You'll only need to get your head under the car at most to be able to reach.
The sender is a piece of cake. If your slim you might be able to make it without lifting the car. I needed to jack up the driver's front wheel a few inches to squeeze under (because I love cheeseburgers). You'll only need to get your head under the car at most to be able to reach.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
What is the gauge reading with the key on? If it's pegged to cool, it's missing ohms input, if it's pegged to high pressure (past 320) the input wire is grounded.
To test the dash unit, go to the sender and pull the wire off. See if the temper goes to cool, then ground the wire to the engine and see if it peg's hot. If the dash unit is working in this manner replace the sender. If it's not then you need to go inside the car and verify the wire from the sender actually has a ohms reading on it. Again without knowing what the actual gauge is doing I don't know which way to steer you.
The oil temperature gauge didn't wire through the printed circuit, it wired direct with power, ground and a ohms wire. You can check the wire at the back of the gauge with this picture.
To test the dash unit, go to the sender and pull the wire off. See if the temper goes to cool, then ground the wire to the engine and see if it peg's hot. If the dash unit is working in this manner replace the sender. If it's not then you need to go inside the car and verify the wire from the sender actually has a ohms reading on it. Again without knowing what the actual gauge is doing I don't know which way to steer you.
The oil temperature gauge didn't wire through the printed circuit, it wired direct with power, ground and a ohms wire. You can check the wire at the back of the gauge with this picture.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jul 23, 2015 at 04:35 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski