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drilling sump for oil temp fitting
les - 1/6/10 at 08:15 PM

Dear all,

I cant find anywhere to fit the oil temp guage sender (mechanical type), it used to be in a sandwich plate on the oil filter but due to changing some stuff I cant fit it in there.

I have thought of drilling and tapping a thread into the aluminium sump- anyone think this will be difficult / problematic?

dont want to start and ruin the sump if its a bad idea!

Thanks Les


big_wasa - 1/6/10 at 08:20 PM

What about drilling the sump plug as they are only a few quid to replace.


les - 1/6/10 at 08:33 PM

hi,

the sender is only slightly smaller than the sump plug so I dont think its possible....


MikeFellows - 1/6/10 at 08:34 PM

I drilled the sump of my vx220 (Z20LET).

i then just welded a nut to the outside and it was fine, never leaked.

as long as you put it in the right place what could go wrong?


les - 1/6/10 at 08:55 PM

ok cool, was thinking i would get leaking problems etc...#

I cant weld, but ill tap a thread in and use some gasket seal.

cheers lads


austin man - 1/6/10 at 09:01 PM

What sump is it as they are not reall thick enough to tap out especialy steel ones


hicost blade - 1/6/10 at 09:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeFellows
I drilled the sump of my vx220 (Z20LET).

i then just welded a nut to the outside and it was fine, never leaked.

as long as you put it in the right place what could go wrong?


+1 get a nut/boss welded to it £30-40 and a job well done......


indykid - 1/6/10 at 09:22 PM

my experience of oil temp sensors in sumps suggests it'll give you a crap representation of the actual oil temperature because the sump's a pretty decent heatsink. even a good track session will probably only show it getting sort of warm.

if it has to go in the sump, it's probably not worth the hassle
tom


hobbsy - 1/6/10 at 10:23 PM

What engine is it?

I've drilled and tapped my R1 sump - just picked a thick part.


MkIndy7 - 2/6/10 at 12:27 AM

They usually have atleast an oil light...
Get a tee for wherever that goes in and have both.

[Edited on 2/6/10 by MkIndy7]


snapper - 2/6/10 at 04:43 AM

Sndwich plates are available to go between engine and oil filter.
Remote oil filters can have oil temp sender fitted.
Any external oil line can have a sender adaptor fitted in it.


02GF74 - 2/6/10 at 09:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by indykid
my experience of oil temp sensors in sumps suggests it'll give you a crap representation of the actual oil temperature because the sump's a pretty decent heatsink. even a good track session will probably only show it getting sort of warm.

if it has to go in the sump, it's probably not worth the hassle




On my Land Rover V8 sump I welded nut on inside then used a copper washer, think it was home made from copper pipe to seal. Nut on the inside means the welding can be porous since hte washer will make the seal plus you will never be able to knock the nut off.

I am considering removing the iol temp guage as the need hardly moves on the gauge; but thenb have a failry large cooler - thinking of removing that too.