Oil temp gauge setup.
 

I was thinking about putting an oil temp gauge on my 1.6 na now that I am going turbo in about 2 weeks. I am thinking about buying a T fitting for the place where the oil pressure gauge attaches to, and running an autometer mechanical gauge from there. From other threads, I read that it is a 1/8 bspt fitting, so I know I'll need an adaptor for the gauge, and to get stainless steel fittings. Is there anything I should consider?

I'd get a digital gauge.

I JUST installed mine into the oil drain plug. I have a 1.8 and my oil supply for the turbo came from a T in the oil pressure sender so I did not have the option to run it from there, unless I put a T in the T. I am also running a MOCAL oil cooler so I do NOT have the option to install it into the sandwich plate. My plan was to run the temperature sensor in the inlet of my oil cooler hose, but the sensor that came with my gauge kit was to long. While there are shorter temperature sensors I could have gone with, I got lazy and just drilled & tapped the plug.

Your options are:
1. T the oil pressure sender
2. T the turbo oil supply
3. Sandwich plate @ oil filter (If you plan to do a oil cooler just do it this way and get a sandwich plate with a 1/8 npt thread pre tapped and drilled: Mishimoto got one)
4. If you have a oil cooler you can install the sensor at the inlet hose, but make sure the sensor is a short stubby one, they are easy to find online. ColorFittings has several adapters for sensors in AN fittings that can be implemented into any AN hose. Just make sure the sensor is low profile.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...3f41a5dc1b.jpg

FWIW - I use a dial for my oil pressure and temp gauges. I'm an "analog guy" so I respond to pointers better than to numbers.

Also, I found that Kboi12's option #3 was my Easy Button (although I opted for a sandwich plate from Mocal - which has an integrated thermostat for the oil cooler lines). That eliminates T-fittings anywhere in the pathway.

think you’ll find the previous poster was referring to using a digital sender rather than a mechanical one.
you can still run an analog style gauge with a digital sender, you just don’t need to plumb a tube of red hot oil into your cockpit like you do for a mechanical one.

I stand corrected. Yes, definitely a "digital" sending unit for the oil pressure.

Many years ago I had a Datsun 510 that I installed a mechanical oil pressure gauge in. I was ALWAYS terrified that the nylon(?) pressure line would rupture, or the compression fitting would fail and shoot boiling-hot, pressurized oil all over the passenger compartment.

Ah, those were the days!

Another option is you can one digital temp gauge and 2 sensors on an A/B switch. I ran water temp and oil temp from the same gauge. Also entertained the idea of other sensors for trans and rear diff. The concept could be easily expanded.

Just beware of using tees - not any tee with a matching thread pitch will work. A temp sensor typically has a deeper length probe, notice how KBoi’s mount has an extended profile on the outside You’ll need that if you intend to install it on the “side”. If you install it on the “end”, then it’s not really seeing any oil flowing past it. Also, if it’s inline of some important oil pathway, you still want enough space that the oil isn’t restricted.

A little off topic, but worth a read:
https://www.miataturbo.net/race-prep...-80234/page29/

I've wired 3 senders to a single gauge, used a 2 Pole, 6 Position rotary switch and some guesswork when soldering:giggle:

Attachment 227041
the 'spider' for testing:eek4:

Attachment 227042
the soldering, not pro quality but it works!



one handed vid, the gauge is a Stack (Autometer) steppermotor type so resets when powered so in this case at each position, I've left a 'dead' position between each sender to allow this.

more details from M5's forum.
https://mighty5s.com/post/49891/thread

Rich.

I tapped into the oil pan while it was out and have the sensor there. I think that was the general consensus the pan one of the better places to put it.