Oil Pressure & Oil Temp Sensors Location

[jakester888]

Guys, I have a Ford 302 5.0 engine.

I'm using a 90 degree adapter to connect the oil filter. I've replaced the OEM pressure sensor with a T-adapter and connected to the pressure and temp sensors on there. But I am not getting any reading on the autometer gauges. Could it be that I need to bleed the oil (remove a vapor lock) or is it that the setup I'm using with the T-adapter will not work?

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No reading on the gauge after running the engine for 5 min:
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If this setup will not work, how/where did you guys install oil temp & pressure sensors? Not using the remote filter.

[CraigS]

My 351 has a similar brass tee piece so I don't think that is your problem. I've always wondered how good a spot that is for accurate oil temp but it does work.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Oil pressure would work in that location so double check your wiring. You need oil temperature to be in the sump or in a location with flow to read accurately. It is deadheaded where you have it now and although it could work electrically it will not give you a true themperature.

Jeff

[rich grsc]

As Jeff said, temp gauge will not give anywhere near correct reading, it needs to be in the oil flow or in the pan. I think you have way too much thread sealant, the gauge needs to ground through the fitting to the block.

[jakester888]

I think you have way too much thread sealant, the gauge needs to ground through the fitting to the block.

Good point, so I checked this with an ohm-meter.

1) The T-adapter is making good contact and is ground. The thread sealant is not at issue.
2) I also checked the wire lead from sensor to gauge, checked +12v lead and checked the ground lead at the gauge. All connectivity is good, voltage is good at the +12v lead.
3) I then checked the resistivity (ohms) between ground and the sensor feed point for both the oil pressure sensor & oil temp unit and found both were around 2 ohms. I repeated this on the original Ford pressure sensor unit and found this to be infinite (meaning, no pathway from ground to feed point). Hmmm.

Is 2 ohms resistance normal for a pressure sensor & temp sensor? I measured this in place in the T-Adapter and stand-alone. Just thinking this may be the reason the pressure & temp gauges aren't working.

[jakester888]

Problem solved.

I removed the T-adapter and went back to the original Mustang pressure sensor & wired to the pressure gauge lead.

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Then I found the original Mustang temp sensor plugged into the side of the oil pan (duh). Found the wire for it behind the firewall and wired to the temp gauge lead.

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Done.

[DaleG]

We all love happy endings that don't cost xtra $;).

[Jeff Kleiner]

Problem solved...



Then I found the original Mustang temp sensor plugged into the side of the oil pan (duh). Found the wire for it behind the firewall and wired to the temp gauge lead.

36999

Done.

Sorry Jake, but it's not solved yet. What you found, and show in the photo, is the factory oil level sensor. In the original car it turns on an idiot light when the oil level is low. It is just an on/off switch and will not indicate temperature or be compatible with the guage. The good news is that you can remove the level sensor "guts" then drill and tap the bung to allow you to install a bushing and the actual temperature sensor. Search a little and you'll find instructions that I posted explaining how to do so.

Good luck!

Jeff

[cobra 53]

You have to use Autometer compatible senders.

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/atm-2242http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/atm-2258

Regards from sunny Spain

Rico

[jakester888]

Sorry Jake, but it's not solved yet. What you found, and show in the photo, is the factory oil level sensor. In the original car it turns on an idiot light when the oil level is low. It is just an on/off switch and will not indicate temperature or be compatible with the guage. The good news is that you can remove the level sensor "guts" then drill and tap the bung to allow you to install a bushing and the actual temperature sensor. Search a little and you'll find instructions that I posted explaining how to do so.

Good luck!

Jeff

I don't like the idea of drill & tap into the oil pan. Seems like it would work if I removed the guts, find the right size bushing and use the Autometer temp sensor. No drill, to tap. Agree?

[Jeff Kleiner]

I don't like the idea of drill & tap into the oil pan. Seems like it would work if I removed the guts, find the right size bushing and use the Autometer temp sensor. No drill, to tap. Agree?

You don't drill the pan but you will have to tap the oil level sensor housing after gutting it. If you had searched out my post you would have found that is what I was suggesting (I was traveling and couldn't cut & paste it at the time). Here are the directions:

Remove the oil level sensor from the pan and yank the guts out of it, cut the outside portion back flush with the big hex and run a 3/8-18 pipe tap into it (the hole is already the appropriate size so you won't even need to drill it out). You can now thread the 3/8" brass bushing that was supplied with the gauge into it and install the temperature probe:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/jkleiner/Aaron5171/100_3567.jpg

All it costs is about 5 minutes of your time!

Cheers,
Jeff

[jakester888]

Jeff thank you for the information & photo - I can visualize now what you are saying. I think to do this, however, I'd need a drill press to tap that out. Doesn't Forte or some vendor offer this as an off-the-shelf product? Still thinking a bushing with the right dimensions could work.

I apologize for being so ignorant on this.

[Jeff Kleiner]

...I think to do this, however, I'd need a drill press to tap that out...

Nah, just the tap and a "T" handle.

Jeff

[jakester888]

Jeff, I'm going to give this a try. I found that the Low oil sensor on the 5.0 is an M20 1.5 thread pitch. And found this bushing (http://www.3sx.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=32234)online. I'll let you know how it works out.

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[Bren]

Problem solved.

I removed the T-adapter and went back to the original Mustang pressure sensor & wired to the pressure gauge lead.

36998

Then I found the original Mustang temp sensor plugged into the side of the oil pan (duh). Found the wire for it behind the firewall and wired to the temp gauge lead.

36999

Done.

... But he said, "Done" ...

[jakester888]

LOL - done meant I thought I knew what I was doing. Doh.

[Bren]

LOL - done meant I thought I knew what I was doing. Doh.

Haha, I know what you mean. I can't tell you how many times I went out to the garage thinking I knew exactly what to do, only to come back to the forum with 15 more questions.

And the best part is that everyone is so helpful!

[Walt]

Just saying , I followed Jeff's advice on this and it worked perfect. Picked up the tap at local bolt supply store, sensor screwed right in.

[jakester888]

Oil Temp Sensor : Success!
1) M20 1.5 Oil-plug from O'reilly Autoparts ($5 x 3, because I screwed up twice)
2) Drill-Press from Home Depot $125
3) 1/8" - 27 NPT TAP $5
4) Vise from Ace Hardware $49
5) Drilled a hole 5/16 through the M20 plug. Not exactly centered but whatever.
6) Tapped the 1/8" - 27 NPT through.
7) Screwed in the M20 into the oil pan, replacing the Oil Level Sensor
8) Wired up the sensor
9 Done.

Yes, Done this time. The temp works. No leaks. Thanks for the tip Jeff Kleiner.

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[jakester888]

Oil Pressure Sensor : Success!
1) Bought a 3/8" male to female extender (4") due to the reversed headers which interfered with the Autometer gauge. With the extender, the sending unit is now out of the way of the headers.
2) Replaced the OEM sending unit with the Autometer, since it needed to match the gauge.
3) Done.

Gauge working great.

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