Pullin my motor(455) here pretty soon the paint my pump intake while i have it off getting powdercoatrd. Figured itd be a good time to setup a oil temp gauge.Trying to figure out where to put the sending unit.  First idea is to T out of the oil pressure sender port on the top of the motor. Second was to T out of my drain plug with the sending unit on one end and the ball valve i use for draining oil on the other. Trying to get away from pulling the pan and welding a bung. But if i were to do that where would be the best spot on the pan?

Blake

If you're runnin' an oil cooler, I'd say Tee it in on the return line. That way you know the lowest temp you will run, or on the outbound line to monitor the highest temp.


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Dont have a oil cooler. Yet. The guage is going to determine if i need one or not


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Hi, I have a Dooley 10qt pan on my engine, there is a half pipe plug on the pan usually on the right front corner. That's where I installed the mechanical temp bulb for my Auto Meter 2 1/16 oil temp. If I just go crusing holding the rpm about 3,500 within four to five miles the temp is about 180-190, if I start hot dogging around the temp will climb pretty quickly to 200-210 and after a few really hard passes at 5,600rpm I have seen 230. But once I park it for a bit, the temp will drop pretty quickly, within about an hour the oil temp will be down to about 50 degrees. I run Valvoline 50w VR1 oil. I considered installing an oil cooler, but then decided not to. On my last river trip I drove from Buckskin camp all the way to Bluewater Casino and back approx 20 miles, the oil temp hung at +/- 180, but in any engine the oil temp will be dictated by how hard you drive it.

Right on. Is that on a bbc? Does your pressure fluctuate with the temp at all? Im gettin 60-70psi at startup after a few minutes 55-60 and after 20 minutes cruising between 3500-4500 itl drop to 30 buy not a psi below that. Hopin i dont need an oil cooler. Guess ill find out this summer 😐


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Yea, my engine is a BBC, as far as pressure when oil is still on the cooler side my pressure at 3,000-3,500 is 75-80lbs and when hotter it will drop approx 20lbs across the board. I don't see outside temp making a big difference with oil temp, I was taking my boat out from March through November and the only thing that seemed to make a temp difference was how I drove the boat. As with any engine under a load and prolong high rpm useage, that will put allot of heat in the oil.

Right on. Whats temp is too hot for oil?


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LakesOnly is correct, to get the most accurate temp, it should always be taken at the sump. In all my years of racing and high performance involvement, for a conventional mineral based oil, I would look into a cooler or a synthetic product if temp reaches the 250-260 range or above.  A fully synthetic oil can hold up to extreme heat much better and it can also dissipate heat quicker during opperation. I for one, are not a fan of synthetic oils, my equipment doesn't need them and for how often I change the oil, the cost isn't justified for me, but that's just me. I have asked many people that use synthetic oils why they use them, even if the factory vehicle recommends a conventional oil. They usually can't give me an answer, it usually boils down to personal preference or I hear "my buddy usses it". Oil is very important, but like everything else in the engine as far as design, quality and strength, you have to ask yourself, "do I really need it".

Yeah, you'll be fine, maybe before you put the bung in, just think where would be a good spot for routing the mechanical temp line to the gauge. That is if your going with a mechanical unit, I'm a big fan of mechanical gauges over electric.  Maybe see you out at the TPM at Elsinore tomorrow?

So i decided im going to put the sender in the pan. Doesn't really matter where on the pan right? As long as its under the oil level and wont interfere with rotating assembly? And obviously in a logical spot to cleanly tie into the wiring harness haha


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