Oil temp and pressure sensor on same port?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 95
Likes: 5
From: Oudenbosch, The Netherlands
Oil temp and pressure sensor on same port?
Hi,
I have an 81 C3 and did not have a sensor for oil temp while i have the gauge in the cluster. Wanted to add the oil temp sensor in the port just above the oil filter but cannot open the plug for it. Garage mechanic tried to get it loose but suggested not to try further not to damage the engine. He suggested to add it to the port where the oil pressure sensor is located.
Has anyone done this before? Looks like i would need a t-fitting?
I have an 81 C3 and did not have a sensor for oil temp while i have the gauge in the cluster. Wanted to add the oil temp sensor in the port just above the oil filter but cannot open the plug for it. Garage mechanic tried to get it loose but suggested not to try further not to damage the engine. He suggested to add it to the port where the oil pressure sensor is located.
Has anyone done this before? Looks like i would need a t-fitting?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
Hi,
I have an 81 C3 and did not have a sensor for oil temp while i have the gauge in the cluster. Wanted to add the oil temp sensor in the port just above the oil filter but cannot open the plug for it. Garage mechanic tried to get it loose but suggested not to try further not to damage the engine. He suggested to add it to the port where the oil pressure sensor is located.
Has anyone done this before? Looks like i would need a t-fitting?
I have an 81 C3 and did not have a sensor for oil temp while i have the gauge in the cluster. Wanted to add the oil temp sensor in the port just above the oil filter but cannot open the plug for it. Garage mechanic tried to get it loose but suggested not to try further not to damage the engine. He suggested to add it to the port where the oil pressure sensor is located.
Has anyone done this before? Looks like i would need a t-fitting?
are you sure the plug is not the old sensor broke off?
Drill and use an ez-out?
pic?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,960
Likes: 4,516
From: Virginia
81-82 cars had them, and it's a common mod for 77-80 to replace the useless clock. Zip basically sells a kit.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/81-82-o...ding-unit.html
OP: Please post a photo!
https://www.zip-corvette.com/81-82-o...ding-unit.html
OP: Please post a photo!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Cool. I learned something today. I was not aware that GM put an oil temp gauge in the Corvette. Still seems a little useless in a liquid cooled motor. Sounds like they were just looking for something to fill the hole.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
Tells me when oil is able to get rid of moisture and when engine is warmed up.
And it does sound like fill the hole was the idea.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
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From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
One thing the oil gauge showed me was how synthetic oil runs hotter than conventional.
Kind of tweeks my head thinking about it.
I would think syn would be less friction thus less temp?
All I can surmise is syn runs hotter because it
causes the friction/heat to be in the oil and not on parts?
Kind of tweeks my head thinking about it.
I would think syn would be less friction thus less temp?
All I can surmise is syn runs hotter because it
causes the friction/heat to be in the oil and not on parts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
One thing the oil gauge showed me was how synthetic oil runs hotter than conventional.
Kind of tweeks my head thinking about it.
I would think syn would be less friction thus less temp?
All I can surmise is syn runs hotter because it
causes the friction/heat to be in the oil and not on parts?
Kind of tweeks my head thinking about it.
I would think syn would be less friction thus less temp?
All I can surmise is syn runs hotter because it
causes the friction/heat to be in the oil and not on parts?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
One thing the oil gauge showed me was how synthetic oil runs hotter than conventional.
Kind of tweeks my head thinking about it.
I would think syn would be less friction thus less temp?
All I can surmise is syn runs hotter because it
causes the friction/heat to be in the oil and not on parts?
Kind of tweeks my head thinking about it.
I would think syn would be less friction thus less temp?
All I can surmise is syn runs hotter because it
causes the friction/heat to be in the oil and not on parts?
Last edited by REELAV8R; Jan 8, 2022 at 09:23 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,503
Likes: 1,511
From: Little Rock AR
Oil temp guage was added just to fill a hole. You could just replace it with a clock or tee into the oil pressure sensor hole with some fittings from the hardware store.
If your block is not the original one, that plug by the filter will be very hard to remove. It can be removed by heating it up with an oxy acetylene torch until it is dull red hot and spraying it with PB Blaster. It will almost back itself out after that. Propane is not hot enough and WD-40 does not work well for this.
If your block is not the original one, that plug by the filter will be very hard to remove. It can be removed by heating it up with an oxy acetylene torch until it is dull red hot and spraying it with PB Blaster. It will almost back itself out after that. Propane is not hot enough and WD-40 does not work well for this.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2020
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From: Central Florida
2024 Corvette of the Year Winner - Modified
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I didn’t know any c3’s had this gauge either. I took my useless clock out and now have a much more useful afr gauge in its place.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 600
Likes: 110
From: Mainz
This is where I put the oil temperature sensor on my 71' . Before it was closed with an allen plug. But as You know the oil pressure line goes out close to where the distributor mounts on the back of the gen1 sb.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
To answer your question, the temp gauge won't work right with the sensor tee'd in, it needs to be in the flow of oil to pick up the temp correctly. I believe the port up top is 1/8 npt and the temp sensor is 1/4 npt.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 95
Likes: 5
From: Oudenbosch, The Netherlands
Oil temp guage was added just to fill a hole. You could just replace it with a clock or tee into the oil pressure sensor hole with some fittings from the hardware store.
If your block is not the original one, that plug by the filter will be very hard to remove. It can be removed by heating it up with an oxy acetylene torch until it is dull red hot and spraying it with PB Blaster. It will almost back itself out after that. Propane is not hot enough and WD-40 does not work well for this.
If your block is not the original one, that plug by the filter will be very hard to remove. It can be removed by heating it up with an oxy acetylene torch until it is dull red hot and spraying it with PB Blaster. It will almost back itself out after that. Propane is not hot enough and WD-40 does not work well for this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,503
Likes: 1,511
From: Little Rock AR
It might not original or ideal to install an oil temp sender to a different place on the block but, it would at least "function" if you attached it to a tee fitting at the oil pressure sensor connection.