miataspeed2005

iTrader: (3)

I'm going to install a oil temp gauge this week and I started doing some reseach on best locations to install it and this is what I came up with.

1- oil drain plug adaptor from autometer: Easy to do, heard the temperature probe doesn't sit all the way inside the pan, leaks a little, and some times it reads lower temperature from oil just sitting there and not flowing threw.

2: Drilling and taping oil plug: Cheapest to do but same problems as #1

3: Sandwich plate on oil filter: 40-50 $$$, gauge reads higher due to heat soak from block.

4: Top of oil pump: I saw this on trackdog racing, looks like a good spot but it said 99 & up. Not sure if my 90 would have this threaded spot aswell, and what thread size it is.

Any other ideas? Spots? Inputs?

thymer

iTrader: (5)

I ditched my remote oil filter for a oil cooler and lost my 1/8npt spot for the oil temp gauge. I was going to drill and tap the pan but with the engine in I couldn't find a good place to get to it sooo.... I'm going with the oil plug from Autometer. It seems to have the same taper on the end like the stock plug so shouldn't leak. I'll O-ring it if necessary. I think it will work fine and for 8 bucks on Amazon you can't beat the price.

miataspeed2005

iTrader: (3)

Got a link to it?

thymer

iTrader: (5)

This is what I ordered:

Amazon.com: Auto Meter 2267 Oil Pressure Metric Adapter: Automotive

Just came in yesterday, will install this weekend.

Rennkafer

iTrader: (3)

Why not just drill/tap the OEM drain plug like your #2... seems cheaper and faster than #1 and the stock plug doesn't leak.

thymer

iTrader: (5)

If it leaks that's the second option for me until the engine is out again. For 8 bucks though it isn't worth my time, my to-do list is excruciating. Winterize the pool, fix the house trim, fix the water heater... That's why it's taking me 2 fricken years to build this car.

miataspeed2005

iTrader: (3)

I know I could do that but I don't want to get false readings. That's why I was going someone had any better ideas

Rennkafer

iTrader: (3)

Agreed that the drain plug isn't the best option, it just sounded like you'd decided to go with the Autometer plug which was why I asked.

Are you running an oil cooler?

curly

iTrader: (25)

Drain plug worked fine for me. I switched to the sandwich plate when I got an oil cooler, didn't seem to change the reaction time and temperature reading much (besides it being a little bit cooler thanks to the oil cooler).

Never leaked, and now it has a plug in it that hasn't leaked either. The only down side is having to change your oil. I put an inch of wire off the sensor onto a spade connector. For oil changes I just unplugged it and it spun off. Annoying, but it worked.

miataspeed2005

iTrader: (3)

No oil cooler and I run the greddy turbo which it's oil cooled so I wanted to start checking up on my oil temps. After I start auto-x this spring I'm going to decide if I need an oil cooler or not.
Anyone seen the oil outlet ontop of the oil pump?